US President Barack Obama is to be presented with a copy of baptismal records which prove his Offaly connections.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will hand-deliver a photograph of Templeharry Church in Moneygall, where Obama's great-great-great-grandfather was baptised, along with parish records and a picture of the schoolhouse his ancestors attended.

Mr Cowen will also extend an invitation to President Obama to visit Ireland and to Moneygall during his St Patrick's Day visit to the White House.

Top of the agenda during Mr Cowen's visit will be the global economy and the murders of two soldiers and a police officer in Northern Ireland.

However, he will also be taking time out to speak to Barack Obama about his Irish ancestors. Obama's great-great-great-grandfather, Fulmouth Kearney, was reared in the tiny village in Co Offaly before he left for New York at the age of 19.

It's almost 160 years ago since the historic journey was made. However, Obama's eighth cousin, Henry Healy, is still hopeful he'll get to meet his distant relation.

\[Chris Cairns\]Mr Healy met the Taoiseach on Saturday morning and handed him a number of items to deliver to the White House.

"We gave him a book written by Seamus O'Riain, the former president of the GAA, and the picture of Templeharry Church and a picture of the schoolhouse where his ancestors would have attended. There's pictures of the baptismal records as well."

The idea to bring proof of Mr Obama's Irish ancestry to the White House came from Shinrone councillor Peter Ormond.

Mr Healy hopes the photographs of where Mr Obama's ancestors worshipped will stir an interest in the president to investigate his family tree further.