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Joe Biden returns to County Mayo roots on last leg of Ireland tour Joe Biden ends Ireland tour with passionate address to thousands
(about 5 hours later)
US president’s emotional visit to west of Ireland to culminate in speech at great-great-great-grandfather’s birthplace US president turned his farewell speech outside St Muredach’s cathedral in Ballina into a celebration of Irish and American values
Joe Biden has returned to his roots in County Mayo to conclude a four-day visit to Ireland with prayers, tears, ballads and a rhapsodic farewell. Joe Biden has concluded his visit to Ireland with a passionate riverside address to tens of thousands of people at his ancestral town in County Mayo.
The US president plunged into a final round of engagements on Ireland’s west coast on Friday after a whirlwind week that stamped his Irish identity on his presidency, evoking comparisons with a 1963 visit by John Kennedy. The US president turned his farewell speech outside St Muredach’s cathedral in Ballina on Friday night into a celebration of Irish and American values that appeared partly aimed at US voters.
Biden prayed at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, a Catholic shrine, during a highly personal pilgrimage through County Mayo that was to culminate in a speech after sunset outside St Muredach’s Cathedral at Ballina, the birthplace of his great-great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt. “My friends, people of Mayo, this is a moment to recommit our hearts, our minds and souls to the march of progress. To lay the foundations brick by brick for a better future for our kids and grandkids,” Biden said.
By chance an ex-US army chaplain who works at the shrine, Fr Frank O’Grady, had tended to Biden’s son Beau, who died of cancer in a US military hospital in 2015. The two men spoke, and Biden wept. A hospice in the Mayo town of Castlebar has a plaque dedicated to Beau Biden. Biden bounded on to the stage by the banks of the river Moy in a display of energy and stamina after a hectic four-day visit that tacitly rebuked doubts that at the age of 80 he is too old to run for another term in the White House.
Thousands of people gathered by the banks of the River Moy for what was expected to be an emotional goodbye to a president who caught the public imagination – and made some gaffes – during visits to Dublin and the Cooley peninsula in County Louth, where there is another branch of his family. He cast the story of his ancestors leaving famine-stricken Ireland for liberty and opportunity in the US as a parable of the American dream. “I’ve never been more optimistic – and I’ve been doing this a long time – about what we can achieve if we stick together and stick to our values. This is a time of enormous possibilities,” he said.
US flags and Biden posters festooned Ballina, which resembled a US town on the fourth of July. Families queued to take selfies in front of a mural of Biden. “The kettle is on Joe, come on home,” said a poster. Calling himself “Mayo Joe, son of Ballina”, the prospective Democratic candidate for 2024 invoked traditional values. “Our strength is something that overcomes everyday hardships, and above all our courage allows us to march forward in faith. Family is the beginning, middle and the end – that’s the Irish of it.”
Three times PJ Hughes, who owns a knick-knack shop, ordered hundreds of US flags, and three times they had sold out, he said. “The buzz is unbelievable.” Harry McCafferty, a shoe repairer, said Biden had charmed the nation. “He’s so friendly, he has a great way with him. And it’s great for Ballina. People who have never heard of Ballina will know of it after today.” The 27,000-strong crowd, which had queued for hours and passed though airport-style security, gave the president a rapturous reception, concluding a whirlwind week that stamped his Irish identity on his presidency, evoking comparisons to a 1963 visit by John Kennedy. Ballina is the birthplace of Biden’s great-great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt.
The rapture bookended a homecoming for a man who, the Irish Times said, “just loves being Irish”. It was Biden’s third time in Ireland since 2016 and his first as president. Earlier on Friday, Biden prayed at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, a Catholic shrine, during a highly personal pilgrimage through County Mayo.
By chance, an ex-US army chaplain who works at the shrine, Fr Frank O’Grady, had tended to Biden’s son Beau, who died of cancer in a US military hospital in 2015. The two men spoke, and Biden wept. He also visited a hospice in the Mayo town of Castlebar that has a plaque dedicated to Beau Biden.
US flags and Biden posters festooned Ballina, which resembled a US town on the Fourth of July. Families queued to take selfies in front of a mural of Biden. “The kettle is on Joe, come on home,” said a poster.
Harry McCafferty, a shoe repairer, said Biden had charmed the nation. “He’s so friendly, he has a great way with him. And it’s great for Ballina. People who have never heard of Ballina will know of it after today.”
The rapture bookended a homecoming for a man who, the Irish Times said, “just loves being Irish”. It was Biden’s third time in Ireland since 2016, but his first as president.
The address outside the cathedral followed three days during which the president caught the public imagination – and made some gaffes – during visits to Dublin and the Cooley peninsula in County Louth, where another branch of his family lives.
The relatively freewheeling tour of the Irish republic, where Biden visited a pub and deli and did walkabouts, contrasted with a brief, politically delicate visit to Northern Ireland earlier in the week when he marked the Good Friday agreement’s 25th anniversary amid tension over the Democratic Unionist party’s boycott of power sharing.The relatively freewheeling tour of the Irish republic, where Biden visited a pub and deli and did walkabouts, contrasted with a brief, politically delicate visit to Northern Ireland earlier in the week when he marked the Good Friday agreement’s 25th anniversary amid tension over the Democratic Unionist party’s boycott of power sharing.
The former DUP leader Arlene Foster said Biden “hates” the UK, a claim repeated by some British commentators. US and Irish officials rejected the assertion.The former DUP leader Arlene Foster said Biden “hates” the UK, a claim repeated by some British commentators. US and Irish officials rejected the assertion.
The other protest came from five leftwing members of Ireland’s legislature who boycotted his address to the Dáil on Thursday, saying US support for Israel and Saudi Arabia was hurting Palestinians and Yemenis. A Sinn Féin deputy, Chris Andrews, attended the speech but wore a Palestine T-shirt. The other protest came from five leftwing members of Ireland’s legislature, who boycotted his address to the Dáil on Thursday, saying US support for Israel and Saudi Arabia was hurting Palestinians and Yemenis.
Biden’s speech to the legislature won standing ovations and followed in the footsteps of his predecessors Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. “I’m at home,” he declared. “I just wish I could stay longer.”Biden’s speech to the legislature won standing ovations and followed in the footsteps of his predecessors Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. “I’m at home,” he declared. “I just wish I could stay longer.”
His official Twitter account said the trip had embodied the Irish phrase céad míle fáilte – a hundred thousand welcomes. “Like my grandfather used to say: ‘If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough,’” the tweet added.His official Twitter account said the trip had embodied the Irish phrase céad míle fáilte – a hundred thousand welcomes. “Like my grandfather used to say: ‘If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough,’” the tweet added.
My trip home to Ireland embodied céad míle fáilte – a hundred thousand welcomes. It’s been great to see so many old friends and family – and make some new ones. Like my Grandfather used to say: “If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough.” pic.twitter.com/cgXDMQkPRn The president visited a heritage and genealogy centre in Crossmolina to learn more about his ancestor Edward Blewitt, a civil engineer, and his wife, Mary Mulderg, who emigrated to the US in 1851 and helped to plan and build Scranton in Pennsylvania, which is now twinned with Ballina.
Biden, accompanied by his son Hunter and sister Valerie, landed at Knock airport amid bright sunshine on Friday. “It’s good to be back,” he told dignitaries. Alan Dillon, a local politician who played Gaelic football for Mayo, asked the president to “say a little prayer” to break a purported curse that has prevented the county from winning the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, also known as the Sam Maguire cup, since 1951.
Alan Dillon, a local politician who played Gaelic football for Mayo, asked the president to “say a little prayer” to break a purported curse that has prevented the county winning the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship since 1951. Biden concluded his speech in Ballina with a rallying cry. “Mayo for Sam!” The crowd roared. He was to return to the US on Saturday.
Crowds with US and Irish flags lined the road as the motorcade drove to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, a pilgrimage site that has drawn two popes and Mother Teresa. “Welcome Home Joe,” read one sign.
The US’s second Catholic president – the first was Kennedy – toured the basilica and touched the bricks of a gable wall where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared in 1879.
The president was to visit a heritage and genealogy centre in Crossmolina. According to the White House, the president’s ancestor Edward Blewitt, a civil engineer, and his wife, Mary Mulderg, emigrated to the US in 1851 in the wake of the Great Famine. They helped to plan and build Scranton in Pennsylvania, which is now twinned with Ballina.
Biden was to meet several relatives including Laurita Blewitt, a distant cousin. “It’ll be a historic day for the town,” she said.
Police sealed off roads to all but special shuttles that ferried people close to the riverside cathedral. Expectation built as the crowd thickened. Bands including the Academic, the Chieftains and the Coronas were to warm up the audience. Authorities prepared an elaborate light show to illuminate the stage.
“I can’t wait to see him,” said Bridget Gavin, 54. The town had been scrubbed and painted, she said. “They’ve done it all up. Everyone is shocked that this is happening here – a presidential homecoming. It’ll be a day to remember.”