Earlier this week, Fine Gael issued a press release about a plan for something called an American President’s Trail. The plan, originated by Wicklow TD Edward Timmins, is being launched as part of the America250 programme – a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence. Of the 45 presidents in America’s history, the press release points out, 23 have had Irish roots, “and many of those connections lead back to communities in every corner of Ireland. There is a huge story here, and the American President’s Trail across our island is a chance to tell it properly.”

In an endearingly goofy video posted on Fine Gael’s social media accounts, Timmins can be seen reciting famous quotes from speeches by American presidents – Ask not what your country can do for you!; Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!; Yes we can! – to the soundtrack of Hail to the Chief. He then goes on to explain that the trail would celebrate the Irish connections of those 23 US presidents, and that each of the relevant counties would benefit from the trail. It would provide a huge boost to tourism across the whole island north and south, he says, on a scale similar to the Wild Atlantic Way.

My first reaction to this idea was, I must admit, surprise that nearly half of America’s presidents can claim some kind of Irish ancestry. Your JFKs and your Reagans and your Bidens – those guys I knew about, obviously. And of course I was aware of the fact that Barack Obama’s somewhat tenuous but nonetheless cherished Irish roots had been honoured by perhaps the most internationally-celebrated of all US presidential-themed motorway service stations: the Barack Obama Plaza, located on the M7’s historic Junction 23. And I was vaguely aware that........

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