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| Joe Biden in Ireland: President says Mayo is 'part of my soul' | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Joe Biden arrives on stage to deliver a speech in Ballina, on the last day of his visit to the island of Ireland | Joe Biden arrives on stage to deliver a speech in Ballina, on the last day of his visit to the island of Ireland |
| President Joe Biden has reinforced his pride in his family links to Mayo in the Republic of Ireland saying the county was now "part of my soul". | |
| He was addressing tens of thousands of people on the final part of his four-day visit to the island of Ireland. | |
| Mr Biden said the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement was a reminder of the importance of peace. | |
| Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said Mr Biden was "the most Irish of all American presidents". | |
| "Thank you, for your lifelong commitment to peace on our island, your friendship, for the leadership you have shown protecting all that has been achieved, and for everything you are doing to help build a better future here, in America and in our world." | |
| Earlier, Mr Biden had a chance encounter in Mayo with the priest who gave the last rites to his son Beau. | |
| Beau Biden, the former Delaware Attorney General, died from brain cancer in 2015. | |
| During a visit to Knock Shrine, the president met ex-US Army chaplain Fr Frank O'Grady who is now working there. | |
| President Biden, along with his son Hunter and sister Valerie, viewed a plaque in honour of his late son, Beau | |
| 'We had a real reunion' | 'We had a real reunion' |
| Fr O'Grady said it was a "real reunion" with Mr Biden and that he spent a "delightful 10 minutes with the president". | |
| The priest added that he was "very surprised" when he got "a phone call to say the president wanted to see me". | The priest added that he was "very surprised" when he got "a phone call to say the president wanted to see me". |
| "I hadn't seen him really in eight years since Beau died," he said. | "I hadn't seen him really in eight years since Beau died," he said. |
| "His son Hunter was there too, so we had a real reunion." | |
| Fr Frank O'Grady is a former US Army chaplain who now works at Knock Shrine | Fr Frank O'Grady is a former US Army chaplain who now works at Knock Shrine |
| The parish priest who brought about the meeting said it was a "wonderful, spontaneous thing". | The parish priest who brought about the meeting said it was a "wonderful, spontaneous thing". |
| Fr Richard Gibbons told BBC Radio's Ulster's Evening Extra programme he gave President Biden a tour of the basilica at Knock Shrine and said he spoke about his family, his faith and his son Beau. | Fr Richard Gibbons told BBC Radio's Ulster's Evening Extra programme he gave President Biden a tour of the basilica at Knock Shrine and said he spoke about his family, his faith and his son Beau. |
| "He [President Biden] was crying, it really affected him and then we said a prayer, said a decade of the rosary for his family," the priest said. | "He [President Biden] was crying, it really affected him and then we said a prayer, said a decade of the rosary for his family," the priest said. |
| "He lit a candle and then he took a moment or two of private for prayer." | "He lit a candle and then he took a moment or two of private for prayer." |
| President Biden toured the basilica at Knock Shrine in County Mayo with Father Richard Gibbons | President Biden toured the basilica at Knock Shrine in County Mayo with Father Richard Gibbons |
| Knock Shrine is a pilgrimage site for Catholics. In 1879, locals said they saw an apparition of Mary, Joseph, John the Evangelist, angels and an altar with a cross and a lamb (representing Jesus). | Knock Shrine is a pilgrimage site for Catholics. In 1879, locals said they saw an apparition of Mary, Joseph, John the Evangelist, angels and an altar with a cross and a lamb (representing Jesus). |
| Mr Biden, who is also being accompanied by his sister Valerie Biden Owens, has links to County Mayo through his great grandfather Edward Blewitt. | Mr Biden, who is also being accompanied by his sister Valerie Biden Owens, has links to County Mayo through his great grandfather Edward Blewitt. |
| A double rainbow formed in the sky prior to the US President's arrival in Ballina | A double rainbow formed in the sky prior to the US President's arrival in Ballina |
| From Conor Neeson, BBC News NI in Ballina | From Conor Neeson, BBC News NI in Ballina |
| Heavy rain has failed to dampen the mood among thousands of people gathered in Ballina ahead of President Biden's speech. | Heavy rain has failed to dampen the mood among thousands of people gathered in Ballina ahead of President Biden's speech. |
| A double rainbow formed in the sky above the cathedral at one point, as The Coronas played for the crowd at an event held to welcome him. | A double rainbow formed in the sky above the cathedral at one point, as The Coronas played for the crowd at an event held to welcome him. |
| Young and old mingled along the River Moy as the excitement started to build for the arrival of the guest of honour. | Young and old mingled along the River Moy as the excitement started to build for the arrival of the guest of honour. |
| Children on the shoulders of their parents waved US flags and Irish flags. | Children on the shoulders of their parents waved US flags and Irish flags. |
| People are draped in banners which are unlikely to keep them dry as the rain intermittently falls. | People are draped in banners which are unlikely to keep them dry as the rain intermittently falls. |
| The music is keeping everyone warmed up for the main act as Mr Biden returns - this time as president. | The music is keeping everyone warmed up for the main act as Mr Biden returns - this time as president. |
| President Biden and Father Gibbons touch the original gable wall of the church at Knock Shrine | President Biden and Father Gibbons touch the original gable wall of the church at Knock Shrine |
| Earlier, the president was presented with a brick from a fireplace that is the last surviving piece of his ancestral home in Ballina. | Earlier, the president was presented with a brick from a fireplace that is the last surviving piece of his ancestral home in Ballina. |
| He also made a private visit to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice in Castlebar that is dedicated to his son, Beau. | He also made a private visit to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice in Castlebar that is dedicated to his son, Beau. |
| The president also visited the North Mayo Heritage Centre, that works with people around the world who want to trace their ancestry from Mayo. | The president also visited the North Mayo Heritage Centre, that works with people around the world who want to trace their ancestry from Mayo. |
| 'Welcome home' | 'Welcome home' |
| St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina is lit up ahead of Friday's festivities | St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina is lit up ahead of Friday's festivities |
| Ballina councillor Mark Duffy said people were eagerly awaiting the president's arrival. | Ballina councillor Mark Duffy said people were eagerly awaiting the president's arrival. |
| "This is a homecoming event, it's a welcome home where he has family and friends in the area," he told BBC News NI. | "This is a homecoming event, it's a welcome home where he has family and friends in the area," he told BBC News NI. |
| 'I would like to meet my cousin, Joe Biden' | 'I would like to meet my cousin, Joe Biden' |
| 'I would like to meet my cousin, Joe Biden' | 'I would like to meet my cousin, Joe Biden' |
| Mags Downey Martin of Ballina Chamber of Commerce said it was "an epic, unbelievable, out of this world experience for Ballina". | Mags Downey Martin of Ballina Chamber of Commerce said it was "an epic, unbelievable, out of this world experience for Ballina". |
| "I mean you can't quantify it. You cannot say what it means for us," she said. | "I mean you can't quantify it. You cannot say what it means for us," she said. |
| President Biden was presented with a brick from a fireplace that is the last surviving piece of his ancestral home in Ballina | President Biden was presented with a brick from a fireplace that is the last surviving piece of his ancestral home in Ballina |
| A star-studded line-up of Irish musicians, including The Academic, The Chieftains and The Coronas, entertained the crowd at St Muredach's Cathedral ahead of Mr Biden's visit on Friday night. | |
| Coronas' frontman Danny O'Reilly told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that the band was "buzzing" to perform for another US president, having previously played for Barack Obama during his 2011 visit. | Coronas' frontman Danny O'Reilly told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that the band was "buzzing" to perform for another US president, having previously played for Barack Obama during his 2011 visit. |
| President Biden views a portrait of himself in Ballina on Friday | President Biden views a portrait of himself in Ballina on Friday |
| "It's one of those bucket list things you're just happy to be involved in," he added. | "It's one of those bucket list things you're just happy to be involved in," he added. |
| The Mayo senior men's and women's Gaelic Athletic Association football teams also took to the stage in Ballina. | The Mayo senior men's and women's Gaelic Athletic Association football teams also took to the stage in Ballina. |
| I'm at home, Biden says during historic Irish visit | I'm at home, Biden says during historic Irish visit |
| Biden hails young people of NI on his Belfast visit | Biden hails young people of NI on his Belfast visit |
| Delicate diplomacy on show in Biden's Belfast trip | Delicate diplomacy on show in Biden's Belfast trip |
| 'You'd know Joe Biden is Irish - he's good craic' | 'You'd know Joe Biden is Irish - he's good craic' |
| Locals hope President Biden will pose for a selfie by this pop-art mural | Locals hope President Biden will pose for a selfie by this pop-art mural |
| On Thursday, President Biden declared he was home as he made an historic address to the Irish Parliament. | On Thursday, President Biden declared he was home as he made an historic address to the Irish Parliament. |
| 'Working more closely' | 'Working more closely' |
| He said the UK "should be working closer" with Ireland to support Northern Ireland. | He said the UK "should be working closer" with Ireland to support Northern Ireland. |
| On Friday, Tanaiste (deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin said he believed the remarks were an exhortation to everybody to work together. | On Friday, Tanaiste (deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin said he believed the remarks were an exhortation to everybody to work together. |
| "I think the context was clear from the president, he was speaking in the context of all of us," Mr Martin said. | "I think the context was clear from the president, he was speaking in the context of all of us," Mr Martin said. |
| "He mentions the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland." | "He mentions the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland." |
| Mr Biden and Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar outside Dublin Castle on Thursday night | Mr Biden and Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar outside Dublin Castle on Thursday night |
| Mr Martin also praised a speech the president gave in Belfast on Wednesday, saying it achieved the right balance and would help the political atmosphere in Northern Ireland. | Mr Martin also praised a speech the president gave in Belfast on Wednesday, saying it achieved the right balance and would help the political atmosphere in Northern Ireland. |
| "I think it will have served a purpose, in respect of that I have no doubt," he said. | "I think it will have served a purpose, in respect of that I have no doubt," he said. |
| President Biden will return to America on Friday night. | President Biden will return to America on Friday night. |
| Ireland is part of my soul, says Biden | |
| Ireland is part of my soul, says Biden | |
| Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. | Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. |
| They look at what the agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line. | They look at what the agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line. |
| Listen to all episodes of Year '98: The Making of the Good Friday Agreement on BBC Sounds. | Listen to all episodes of Year '98: The Making of the Good Friday Agreement on BBC Sounds. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Republic of Ireland | Republic of Ireland |
| Good Friday Agreement | Good Friday Agreement |
| Joe Biden | Joe Biden |