US President Joe Biden has made his final address of his visit to Ireland.
The father-of-four, who was introduced to the crowd by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, delivered a speech in front of St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina on Friday evening.
The 80-year-old spoke at length about his Irish heritage, in particular the Blewitt family who hailed from Ballina, Co. Mayo.
President Biden admitted ‘it feels like coming home’ while he addressed the extensive crowd around St Muredach’s Cathedral.
The 80-year-old will return to Co. Dublin tonight, where he will leave Dublin Airport aboard Air Force One for Delaware.
President Biden landed in Belfast on Tuesday evening, where he was greeted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
His first engagement on the island of Ireland took place on Wednesday, when he met with Prime Minister Sunak at a city centre hotel in Belfast.
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President Biden then delivered an address at Ulster University, where he was joined by the North’s political leaders and representatives from youth, business and civic communities.
The 80-year-old then made his way to Dublin Airport aboard Air Force One – where he was greeted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, before travelling to Co. Louth via motorcade for a walk about Carlingford and Dundalk.
The father-of-four then returned to Dublin, ahead of a long day of engagements on Thursday.
On the morning of April 13, he met with Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin – where he was introduced to the Irish President’s beloved Bernese Mountain dogs, Bród and Misneach.
@goss.ie Michael D. Higgins’ beloved dog Misneach was having none of US President Joe Biden when he visited Áras an Uachtaráin today 😂🙈🎥 RTÉ News #BidenVisit ♬ original sound – Goss.ie
President Biden then had a meeting with the Taoiseach at the Farmleigh estate.
On Thursday afternoon, the 46th President of the United States addressed the Oireachtas, making him the fourth US President to do so – following John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
The 80-year-old then concluded his tour of Dublin with a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.
Air Force One, which departed from Dublin Airport on Friday morning, landed at Ireland West Airport Knock just after lunchtime.
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President Biden and his entourage travelled to Knock, where he took some private time for prayer at the Marian Shrine.
He spontaneously met with Fr Frank O’Grady, who delivered his son Beau’s last rites ahead of his death in 2015.
The 80-year-old then made a scheduled stop at the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre, where he will further explore his ancestry before he met with his local cousins.
The father-of-four concluded his Irish visit by delivering a powerful address in front of St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina, Co. Mayo.
