Obama's Irish ancestor had a hair-raising time

Barack family research revealed ahead of visit

- BY SEAN MURPHY

BACK IN OLD SOD Barack Obama and Michelle on College Green in Dublin in 2011 CHEERS Obama enjoys a pint in Moneygall pub VISIT Michelle and daughters with genealogist Fiona

FORMER US president Barack Obama's Irish ancestor stood for election and was trolled by opponents, his genealogist has revealed.

Family history expert Fiona Fitzsimons told of Barack's political lineage ahead of his return to Ireland this week when he will be given the Freedom of Dublin.

Michael Kearney, who was a wigmaker in the 1720s, stood for election to the Guild of Barber Surgeons, which was the group that regulated the wig trade.

Ms Fitzsimons, the genealogist who traced Obama's roots, found out that the ancestor was also an elected representative who faced down dirty tricks.

She said: "We found a pamphlet that was written in 1726 by an opponent of Michael Kearney. It was found in the Trinity collection.

"This pamphlet railed against Kearney, trolling him as a bad person. There were a lot of insults and also slurs against his character. But he still got elected."