Muhammad Ali honours his Irish ancestors
- 00:01:41
- ITN
Muhammad Ali honours his Irish ancestors
On an emotional visit to see his little-known Irish roots, the three-time World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali was made the first Honorary Freeman of Ennis, Co Clare, his ancestral home. As an overwhelmed Ali accepted the honour, his wife Yolanda revealed his celebrated defiance with a declaration to return, despite medical advice against travelling. "Now that we know Muhammad is an Ennis man, we will be back," she said. Thousands of fans packed into the town's main square for hours before the civic reception was broadcast on a huge screen. Lonnie announced that her husband, who has been battling Parkinson's Disease for 25 years and had never before visited Ennis, was overwhelmed by the experience. Imelda O'Grady, a distant cousin, embraced the boxing legend as he arrived at Ennis Civic Chamber.Ms O'Grady presented Ali with framed photographs of them both, with the inscription: "Cead Mile Failte (One Hundred Thousand Welcomes) from Imelda O'Grady and the O'Grady families." "It was unreal; it was a privilege," she said afterwards. Thousands more people thronged Turnpike Road, the homeplace of Ali's great-grandfather Abe Grady, who emigrated to the United States in the 1860s and married a freed African-American slave. The 67-year-old ex-fighter, renowned as a civil rights champion, alighted from a black people carrier to unveil a plaque at his ancestor's house. As crowds cheered "Muhammad, Muhammad" and "Ali, Ali", he turned and with an impromptu throw-back to his days in the ring, did some shadowboxing cameo once again.
ITN | September 1, 2009
