Mr. Obama and his wife Michelle have been invited by Dublin's Lord Mayor Ray McAdam to accept their Freedom of Dublin award, during their trip this September.
On 26 September, Obama will be in Dublin for a sit down interview with journalist Fintan O'Toole in the 3arena. Tickets went on sale earlier this month, with the Journal reporting that VIP ticket packages were on offer for over €600.
Barack and Michelle Obama were originally given the Freedom of Dublin award in 2017, but have not yet formally accepted it. It's Dublin's highest honour and is reserved for individuals whose "leadership, service and values have made a profound and lasting contribution to the world". The Council has conferred this award on 88 people, including U2, Mother Teresa, John F Kennedy, George Bernard Shaw, and Brian O’Driscoll.
Speaking to the Classic Hits Radio Newsroom, Lord Mayor Ray McAdam said, "During his term in office, he led with a sense of hope and in terms of Michelle, she was an inspiration to many young girls and women across the world".
However, the Irish Anti-War Movement have raise concerns over the Obama's acceptance of this award, saying 'he failed to deliver on key promises'. The group protested when Obama visited in 2011 and say the plan to protest again in September.
Jim Roche, Public Relations Officer and secretary of the Irish Anti-War Movement said, "President Obama promised that he would close Guantanamo Bay detention camp, which we all know is essentially a torture camp for US military, to torture suspects, he didn't do that, he didn't succeed in doing that".
At least Mr. and Mrs. Obama won't have to worry about paying any customs duties on their trip. One privilege included in the Freedom is the right to bring goods into Dublin through the city gates, without paying a fee.
The Obama’s last visited Ireland in 2011. During his trip, he spoke to the country at Dublin's College Green and visited Moneygall in Co. Offaly, where his great-great-great grandfather, Falmouth Kearney was originally from, before he emigrated to the United States in 1850.
