Ali, Irelands greatest boxer

DUBLIN–Boxing legend Muhammad Ali made a sentimental journey to discover his Irish roots yesterday, and met distant relatives during celebrations at the local town hall and a nearby castle.
Thousands lined the streets of Ennis, western Ireland, to cheer the motorcade carrying Ali as the three-time world heavyweight champion visited the home of his great-grandfather Abe Grady.
Fans adorned streets with red, white and blue USA bunting and flags, while shop windows competed to display the most impressive posters honouring Ali – including one tongue-in-cheek portrait of him appearing ready to knock out an unpopular Irish politician.
Ali, who is 67 and battling Parkinson's disease, offered a few playful jabs to cameras but made no public comments and steered clear of throngs of autograph seekers, among them hundreds of kids whose schools closed early for the event. Police blocked off roads and kept crowds in line with railings.
Grady settled in Kentucky in the 1860s and married a freed slave. One of their grandchildren, Odessa Lee Grady Clay, gave birth to Ali – then Cassius Clay – in 1942.
Genealogists pinpointed Ali's Irish links in 2002, but Ali had never visited Ennis before.
His visit to Ennis Town Hall was broadcast live on big-screen televisions outside, where locals also took in a live concert by Irish traditional musicians, including best-selling accordionist Sharon Shannon.
Associated Press

 

your a day late with the thread.....

 

very interesting thanks

 

Ali is tough mother****er you would figure that he had a little Irish in him

 

I always suspected he had a wee bit of the leprechaun in him.

 

You would not be suprised he had some irish in him with his boxing ability!!

 

so what if you seen it before, just don't ****ing re-read it *******

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl

 

He's not Irish. **** off.

 

You never heard of "The Black Irish"?

 

you are not not ******ed, **** off !:good

 

Not surprised he has some Irish in him, how stubborn he was in the ring always fighting back is good enough proof that's true.

 

not better than jimmy mclarnin

 

Thats cool that he paid respect to his Irish roots in this manner.

 

Had no idea about this. Very interesting... Thanks!