THE PHOENIX Park, College Green and the GPO are among the Dublin venues under consideration for a planned public address by US president Barack Obama when he visits Ireland later this month.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil yesterday Mr Obama was likely to deliver the speech as part of a “major entertainment event” in Dublin.
Sources said the White House was “very keen” to include a public address in the president’s itinerary.
The event, expected to take place on the evening of May 23rd, is envisaged as something similar to the gathering Mr Obama addressed as a presidential candidate at Berlin’s Tiergarten park in July 2008.
In 1995, then US president Bill Clinton addressed a crowd of tens of thousands at College Green.
It is understood a major Irish music promoter is involved in planning the Obama event. There has been some speculation that U2, who played at Mr Obama’s inauguration in 2009, may perform.
According to their website, U2 are touring the US later this month. They are due to play a concert in Denver on May 21st, followed by a May 24th concert in Salt Lake City, which would leave a small window of opportunity for the band to perform in Dublin on May 23rd.
The Taoiseach said entrance to the Dublin event would be free.
An advance team of US officials is due to arrive later this week to finalise details of Mr Obama’s itinerary, which will include a meeting with President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin, a meeting with the Taoiseach, and a visit to Moneygall, Co Offaly, where one of his ancestors was born.
Mr Kenny added that “[the public event] is not actually agreed yet because the US personnel have to look at the sites in question and give their view on the range and extent of the numbers who might turn up.”
Meanwhile, Westlife, the Chieftains, the National Symphony Orchestra, X Factor star Mary Byrne, and former Eurovision winner Eimear Quinn are among the acts due to take part in a show to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Ireland next week.
The queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will join President McAleese and 2,000 guests drawn from Irish sport, culture, politics, entertainment, business and charities at the event, to be held at the Convention Centre in the Dublin Docklands.
The evening will also include a performance by Riverdance, readings from Irish literature, and a fashion show featuring designers from Ireland and Britain, such as John Rocha, Louise Kennedy and M&S.