CROKE PARK HAS seen many monumental moments and next May will be a big one, when Barack Obama is set to make a speech at Croke Park.

The Irish Independent is reporting in its print edition today that President Obama will address the Republic at a rally in Croke Park on May 23.

A number of newspapers reported at the weekend that this rally was a strong possibility during the President’s Irish visit.

This will come on his return from Moneygall in Co Offaly, the home of his great-great-great-grandfather Fulmouth Kearney.

However, the Independent adds that there is a possibility the speech may be switched to 22 May, as it may prove too difficult to fill Croke Park on a Monday.

No details have yet been confirmed about tickets or an entry fee for the event, although security is set to be extremely tight.

Meanwhile, RTE is reporting that the Garda Representative Association is concerned most of the annual Garda budget will be spent on policing the forthcoming visits from President Obama and Queen Elizabeth II.

During the visits, all Garda leave is expected to be cancelled, leading leading to millions of euro spent on overtime payment.