President Obama

President Obama visited Ireland for about 9 hours today. He met with the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny (above) and with President Mary McAleese.

President Obama and his wife signed the President's official visitor book (above).

He later spoke to a large group of Irish citizens in front of Trinity College in the afternoon. His speech was well received, primarily because he dusted off his campaign theme of hope, which Ireland's economy could surely benefit from a little more of...

The Ghost

This film is based on a book written by an English ex-political journalist. I'm sure the book was better but the movie was quite disappointing. Conspiracy theories trouble me mainly because people feel that there is some master puppeteer pulling the strings behind the scenes coordinating a million different potential outcomes. Humanly impossible. Notice I said humanly...

Part Manchurian Candidate, part All the President's Men, part Michael Moore bash-the-leader because of their involvement in Iraq...

A yawner.

European Rugby Champions

Leinster staged one of the greatest comebacks in modern rugby championship play on Saturday night.

Down 6-22 at the half, Leinster came out and played their trademark aggressive tempo game after the break. They won the Heineken Cup for the second time in the last three years 33-22 over England's Northampton Saints.

They are once again the European champions.

- Jonny Sexton scored all but 5 of Leinster's points

- Leinster held their own in the second half scrums

U.S. and Ireland

An Irish law firm that has ties with the U.S. hosted an open house art exhibit. This was to celebrate the significant relationship between our two countries and lay the groundwork for the upcoming POTUS visit.

The Queen

Queen Elizabeth visited Ireland for four days this week... the first visit by a British monarch for over a century.

She was well received and it feels as if this visit may have helped to heal some of the historical wounds between these two countries.

It certainly didn't hurt.

Blue Valentine

Michelle Williams was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in this film. And Ryan Gosling was not, which is a shame. His performance is the more active, the more tender, the more heartbreaking. This is a story of married couple on the decline. The wife has lost the love she had for her husband (I'm not sure she ever had it to begin with...) and the husband has dedicated himself to being there for his wife and her baby (which is not his...).

Ryan Gosling's character makes a comment to one of his co-workers and it summarizes the central point of the film -- " I feel like men are more romantic than women. When we get married we marry, like, one girl, 'cause we're resistant the whole way until we meet one girl and we think I'd be an idiot if I didn't marry this girl she's so great. But it seems like girls get to a place where they just kinda pick the best option... 'Oh he's got a good job.' I mean they spend their whole life looking for Prince Charming and then they marry the guy who's got a good job and is gonna stick around."

He loves her and she stopped loving him. Heartbreaking...

Barry McCall

One of the silent auction items in Friday night's event was for a personal portrait session by renowned Irish photographer Barry McCall.

A kindly young gentleman I know won this as a gift to his wife for their upcoming anniversary.

A gift to his wife as a reward for her endless and tireless work over the last many months...

- self, wife, and Barry McCall (who graciously attended Friday's event)

- Dust jacket from Barry's latest collection of portraits of Irish celebrities. All proceeds to benefit the ISPCC.

Not for the faint of heart...

Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Summer Campaign is entitled "I Can't Wait Until I Grow Up". The campaign, which will run for the month of May 2011, highlights that childhood is supposed to be one of the happiest and safest times in a child's life, yet for many Irish children who contact Childline this is simply not the case.

The ISPCC receives less than 10% government funding. All funds are greatly received and will help us continue our work. Every donation helps bring us one step closer to our vision of every child having the right to be heard and to have a childhood free from abuse.

To read our Children's Rights Manifesto, to make a donation to our work or to learn more log on to www.ispcc.ie.

AWCD auction to benefit the ISPCC

My wife has been working tirelessly (and I mean tirelessly in every sense of the word...) since September in raising funds on behalf of the AWCD (American Women's Club of Dublin) to benefit the ISPCC (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children). This has included at least ten separate events all culminating in tonight's silent auction/dinner held at the residence of the Egyptian ambassador to Ireland (his wife is American and a member of the club).

The event was a grand success and she should be proud of all of her hard work and generosity...

Happy Mother's Day

What breakfast in bed isn't complete without heart shaped toast?