Yanks a lot...

Americans celebrate Thanksgiving hol

- MICHELLE FLEMING

TODAY millions of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving – the country’s biggest holiday.

Falling on the last Thursday in November, its historical roots are in both religious and cultural.

So to mark the day, here’s our the top 10 reasons why the Irish love the States.

Irish-American presidents:

Yanks are amazed by Barack Obama plaza – a purpose-built service station on the M7 on the outskirts of Obama’s ancestors’ (home)town of Moneygall.

Genealogists pinned his forebears to the village - and his greatgreat-great grandfather Falmouth Kearney.

O’Bama came over to pull a few pints in May 2011. No sooner had he and his wife Michelle left, than locals built a behemoth petrol station in his name.

Visitors can buy What’s the craic, Barack? T-shirts and sticks of Obama Plaza rock.

The Corrigan Brothers even penned a classic called There’s No One As Irish As Barack Obama to honour the visit. Meanwhile, JFK’s relations in New Ross are still proud of the fact it’s the historical hometown of the late president.

Garth Brooks

Our obsession with American country music was underlined in late summer when Garth Brooks sold out five nights in Croke Park.

It’s thought 400,000 fans saw the star and fans melted when he cried on stage about how much he loves the country.

There was definitely a rural/city divide as Dubliners scratched their heads at the droves of their country cousins descending on the capital.

But anyone who has ever been tonight clubs from Castle-dermot to Castle-blayney knows Garth’s still got his friends in all places. An Irish Thanksgiving?