It’s my first time in the 3Arena since I went to a Billy Joel concert in 2013. Two trips for two extremely influential men. The seats are great (they would want to be for the €140 that they cost), and the atmosphere is buzzy. One would be forgiven for thinking that we were soon to be treated to a rock concert, not a discussion between one of Ireland’s top journalists and the 44^th President of the United States. 

A short montage of some of Obama’s career highs, as well as his visit to Dublin in 2011, set to the well-known bars of U2’s ‘City of Blinding Lights’, (a song used repeatedly by Obama throughout both of his presidential campaigns) plays out before Irish Times Journalist Fintan O’Toole takes the stage to greet the audience and introduce President Obama.

Obama himself carries with him a level of aura many world leaders would envy. His security team blend in so well in front of the stage that you would be forgiven for not noticing them. His comfortable walk and wave onto the stage show a man who is well versed in these kinds of events.

What follows in the next ninety minutes is twofold. First, reflections. Reflections on visits to Ireland, on facing issues with race, and identity. “Much of the history we do consume is fabricated,”, he notes. Obama speaks of Donald Trump and refers to his censorship of media and the censorship and fallback on certain late night chat show hosts, without naming any names, an act of class that his successor would never take on

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World War Two, The Cold War, Palestine, there were not many stones unturned. Naturally, these reflections turn to looking towards the future. The work of his foundation hopes for a resolution in conflicts and instilling a level of hope for the future.

“Much of the history we do consume is fabricated,”, he said.

Why is it that the Irish are so fond of Barack Obama? His Irish ties could be cited, but it is very common for the American people to have cousins over on our side of the pond. Negating all of that, a huge part of Obama’s appeal in this day and age is what he represents, what he reminds people of.

The first African American President, with a wife who vulnerably put herself in the spotlight in more ways than one. Michelle Obama appeared on teen series such as iCarly, featured in a ‘Carpool Karaoke’ segment with James Corden, busting out Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé classics.

The love for the Obamas stems from their being in touch with the everyday world and being seen as very human. This is not the general consensus when looking at the current administration and its first family members.

As for what the former president is up to these days, he spoke contently of his work with the Obama Foundation, the non-profit organisation set up by Obama and his wife that aims to help and educate people internationally. He spoke specifically of Nika Kovǎc, founding director of the Institute of 8th of March Institute, (a movement-building organization that uses storytelling and advocacy to confront gender and economic inequalities across Slovenia, according to its website), and the work and advocacy that she did in her home country with the help of the foundation.

Kovǎc successfully ran two referendums in her home country, after learning via the Obama Foundation how to appeal to people and voters. A big point on that was to reach out to people on their own level, to not talk down to anyone, especially when in a position of power and education.

An inevitable wind down comes upon the stage as Obama says his final part. It is clearly important that the former president wants people to be looking forward and to be educating themselves on the goings on of the world. Though he is busy with his foundation and other ventures, we can be assured that Obama (who was awarded Freedom of the City shortly before the event) will be back to our country that he seems to have such a strong connection to.