US president Barack Obama’s eighth cousin Henry Healy became a casualty of the economic downturn after he lost his job yesterday.
The Co Offaly native was thrust on to the world stage in 2007 when American genealogist Megan Smolenyak discovered Mr Obama’s Irish ancestral home in Moneygall and his connection to Mr Healy.
Since then Mr Healy has had countless official and media engagements, visited the White House and played host to the Obamas during their historic Irish visit last year.
Confirming the loss of his job as a bookkeeper at a plumbing firm, Mr Healy said he was interested in teaching and had begun a course for a diploma in education.