Glass act ... Barack Obama and wife Michelle enjoy a pint

BARACK Obama gulped down a pint of Guinness yesterday on a visit to Ireland after joking he had come to track down his name's missing apostrophe.

The US President made a 24-hour stopover before his first state visit to Britain today.
The highlight was a pilgrimage to his great, great, great grandfather's home town of Moneygall, in County Offaly.
His mother's distant relation Falmouth Kearney emigrated to America in 1850.
Obama had a pint of the black stuff in a pub there, insisting: "I just want you to know the President pays his bar tab." Back in Dublin he thrilled a 25,000 crowd with an open-air speech. He said: "My name is Barack Obama of the Moneygall Obamas and I've come home to find the apostrophe we lost somewhere along the way."

Wave reviews ... the Obamas arrive at Stansted last night

The gag was met by huge cheers of "Obama, Obama". White House aides cultivated the scenes to appeal to Irish-Americans who make up a tenth of US voters. The President and wife Michelle are due to be welcomed at Buckingham Palace by the Queen today. Mr Obama mounted a show of unity with David Cameron last night by writing an article with him for The Times.

Eire'll be seeing you ... President Barack Obama meets Dublin crowd

The pair will hold talks at No10 tomorrow with the Libyan and Afghanistan wars on the top of their list.
In the article they declared the Special Relationship to be "essential for us and for the world". The PM also praised Mr Obama last night.
He said: "I very much admire the President and the way he does his work."
A huge security operation is under way to protect the President during his two days in London.
He arrived in Britain last night ahead of schedule, because of fears the Icelandic ash cloud could cause chaos in the skies today.
The Obamas had been due to fly in this morning and be met at Stansted Airport by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

t.newtondunn@the-sun.co.uk