Obamas say thanks for gift from Kells

Kells tourism interests and the local town council received a welcome letter from a special someone last week, thanking them for their gift of a replica Book of Kells. When Lucy O'Reilly of Kells Tourism Forum picked up her mail on Monday morning, it was more Bill of Rights than ESB bills she held in her hand, as the White House logo gave it away. The letter, sent by regular post, read: "Dear Lucy, we would like to extend our deepest thanks for your kind gift. Your thoughtfulness and generosity are much appreciated. "As our world becomes more interdependent we look forward to the benefit of our two nations and to strengthening bonds between our two people. Thank you again for the wonderful gift. We wish you all the best. Barack and Michelle Obama." Lucy said she was surprised and delighted to receive the letter after being part of a delegation, headed by then Kells Town Council cathaoirleach, Conor Ferguson, which presented the US Ambassador with the gift during the US president's May visit to this country. "It's fantastic to get a hand-signed letter from Michelle and Barack, because we were wondering if the book got to them - so I'm delighted with that," she added. "I'd like to see the letter displayed somewhere, maybe in the council, who facilitated and paid for the gift, and we hope that they come and stop off in Kells for a visit when they come back," she added. Kells Town Council is still fighting for a return of a volume of the original book to the town that bears its name. A petition got underway last week for signatures to return a section of the real Book of Kells itself to the town. Trinity College in Dublin houses the book but Kells Town Council is again taking legal advice on whether or not it would be possible to bring one of the four volumes 'home'.