THE ANCESTRAL HOME

19th November 2008

Our Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowan has invited the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, to visit his ancestral home in County Offaly, Ireland.

I really hope that Mr. Obama does not run into John Gill and the members of the Victims of the Legal Profession (VLPS) whilst here. Imagine if they could persuade Mr. Obama to fight for the rights to his ancestral home?

Does that sound ridiculous? Of course it does!

Every bit as ridiculous as Daniel and Elva Gallagher claiming the land owned by the late Mrs. Madge Friel is their ancestral home. (Sean McGlynn and Catherine McGlynn -v- Daniel Gallagher and Charles Gallagher). At least Daniel Gallagher's brother, Charles Gallagher, recognises the fact that there is no claim and has from an early stage indicated this to Sean and Catherine McGlynn.

Further, Elva Gallagher has absolutely no connection whatsoever with the said property, and Daniel Gallagher was not born there. Nor was his father, Anton Gallagher, and nor indeed was Anton Gallagher's father. And how can he, Daniel Gallagher, or anybody, honestly believe that this man Daniel Gallagher can have a better entitlement to the land of Madge Friel (he has never disputed that the land belonged to Madge Friel) than her nephews and nieces, her nearest next of kin who are rightfully entitled to the lands and have a far closer connection to the lands than Daniel Gallagher or any of his family. Remember that Daniel Gallagher is the son of Anton Gallagher who was a first cousin of Madge Friel and that makes Daniel Gallagher a second cousin which in terms of next of kin is far removed from nephews and nieces.

The right to any ancestral home claimed by Daniel and Elva Gallagher is every bit as remote as any link Barack Obama may have with any ancestral home in County Offaly. The only difference being, Mr. Obama is intelligent enough to know that.