Joe Biden in Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement 2023!

In 2016, Biden visited Ireland as the Vice President of the United States, where he met with then Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny and addressed the Irish parliament. During his visit, he also visited his ancestral home in County Mayo and unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit.

In June 2021, Biden visited Ireland again, but this time as the President of the United States. During his visit, he met with Irish President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and other Irish government officials. He also visited his ancestral home in County Mayo once again and met with some of his distant relatives.

During his visit in 2023, Mr Biden will visit Belfast, Dublin, Mayo, and Louth to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Who is Joe Biden?

Joe Biden is the 46th President of the United States, serving since January 2021. He was born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and served as Vice President under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.

Biden has had a long career in public service, having been a U.S. Senator from Delaware for 36 years before serving as Vice President. During his time in the Senate, he served on the Foreign Relations and Judiciary Committees and was known for his work on issues such as arms control, criminal justice reform, and civil rights.

As President, Biden has focused on a wide range of issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, infrastructure, and social justice. He has also emphasized the importance of bipartisanship and unity in addressing the challenges facing the country.

Joe Biden’s visit to Ireland

Yes, Joe Biden, the current President of the United States, has visited Ireland on multiple occasions. Biden has publicly stated that he has Irish roots and is proud of his Irish heritage.

Biden’s Irish heritage and his affinity for the country have contributed to a strong relationship between the United States and Ireland, with both countries working closely on issues such as trade, security, and the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Joe Biden’s Itinerary

Tuesday, April 11th

It is expected that Mr Biden will arrive late in the evening in Belfast. After arriving he will then be greeted by the UK prime minister Rishi Sunak. The location of his stay is undisclosed, but the sources say that he will be staying in the North reportedly at a Belfast city center hotel.

Wednesday, April 12th

The UK president Mr Sunak and US president Mr Biden will then hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday morning. It is expected that this meeting will take place at the Belfast city center hotel who are hosting the US president.

Ulster University’s newly opened campus is where Mr Biden will travel next to deliver a speech. After addressing Ulster University, Mr Biden will visit county Louth, the birthplace of his great-grandfather James Finnegan.

He will first head to the Cooley Peninsula to visit Carlingford in county Louth. Here Mr Biden visited lily Finnegans pub as vice president in 2016, he has several distant relatives in county Louth.

It is unclear if another stop at lily’s pub will be included in 2023’s itinerary, however Mr Biden has spoken fondly of the pub.

Joe Biden is expected to visit a Norman castle that was built circa 1190, called the Carlingford Castle.

Thursday, April 13th

Mr Biden will meet with President Michael D Higgins on Thursday, said national security council co-ordinator for strategic communications John Kirby, at a White House press briefing.

Mr Biden will become the fourth US president to address the Oireachtas following his meeting with President Higgins.

Friday, April 14th

After arriving at Ireland West Airport, Mr. Biden will be spending the final day of his visit in county Mayo.

Prior to arriving at Ballina, he will visit the Knock Shrine and the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre. He will then finish his visit to Ireland with a speech in Ballina’s St Muredach’s Cathedral.

According to Mr Kirby’s reports in 1827, Edward Blewitt, the president Joe Biden’s great-great-great grandfather, sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral.

The gates will open at 5.30pm, and the programme will begin at 7pm. This is a free public event, and currently the time for Mr Biden’s speech is not yet confirmed, but it could be as late as 9pm and entrance to this event is on first come, first serve basis.

You can register to attend here Tinyurl.com/biden-ballina.

And after Mr Biden has delivered the speech, he will then travel to Dublin Airport to fly back to the United States.

His roots to Ireland?

He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and his ancestral roots can be traced to counties Louth and Mayo in Ireland. Yes, Joe Biden, the President of the United States, has a personal connection to Ireland and has visited the country several times in the past.

During his visit to Ireland in June 2021, President Biden visited his ancestral hometown of Ballina in County Mayo, where his great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt was born. He also met with local officials and members of his extended family.

Irish Americans – Diasporas

Irish Americans are a significant part of the Irish diaspora, which refers to the global population of people of Irish descent who have migrated from Ireland to other parts of the world.

The Irish diaspora is one of the largest in the world, with an estimated 70 million people of Irish descent living in countries around the globe, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

Irish immigration to the United States began in the 19th century, when large numbers of Irish people fled poverty, famine, and political persecution in their homeland. Today, Irish Americans are one of the largest ethnic groups in the United States, with an estimated 33 million people of Irish descent living in the country.

Irish Americans have made significant contributions to American society, culture, and politics. Many prominent American figures, including several U.S. Presidents, have had Irish ancestry, and Irish American culture has had a lasting impact on American music, literature, and sports.

 

Do you have Irish roots? 

Are you a grandchild of an Irish Citizen? Irish citizenship opens the door to a life in Ireland, as well as the opportunity to travel and work freely throughout the 27 countries in the European Union.