LIVE: US President Joe Biden is now speaking in Ballina
Well, it’s the final day of US President Joe Biden’s official visit to Ireland.He’s already visited the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, where he had an emotional and unplanned meeting with the priest who gave the Last Rites to his son Beau.
“I’ll tell you what, it means the world to me and my entire family to be embraced as Mayo Joe, son of Ballina.” 13 minutes ago 9:51PM On the RTÉ stream, there are shouts of “Mayo for Sam” and “bring on the Joe show”. “It is a story of longing – for a better life, a better society, and a better world. A story of unimaginable courage in the face of loss,” Varadkar said.“It is your story, Mr President, as well as our own.”“Tonight we are celebrating in Ballina. We’re celebrating our history, our heritage, our culture and most importantly, our people,” Duffy saidDuffy mentions that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will be speaking and there are some audible boo’s from the crowd.
53 minutes ago 9:11PM Tributes were paid to the late Paddy Moloney by Kevin Conneff and Matt Molloy during the performance, who have been members of the Chieftains since 1976. “We’re waiting for that Sam Maguire, we’ve had everybody now. We’ve had the President of the United States, we’ve had the Pope and we’ve had many many distinguished visitors over the years into Mayo.
2 hours ago 8:00PM Dillon also says that he asked Biden to say a prayer for the Mayo GAA team, with the team not taking home the All-Ireland since 1951. 2 hours ago 7:51PM While the Coronas are still playing away in Ballina, Fine Gael TD and former Mayo footballer Alan Dillon said that there’s a good energy going around the town ahead of Biden’s visit.
He’s been able to hear a bit of trad music and spoke with some of the Caffery family, who own a shop on the site of the former Blewitt family home.“It’s a 200 year old brick,” Biden said.2 hours ago 7:33PM The Coronas now entertaining the crowds here in Ballina. pic.twitter.com/1WHLfBhfCBThis is their second time performing for a US president, having performed on College Green in 2011 for Barack Obama.
“There is a great sense of occasion here, there is great anticipation building for President Biden,” the Sinn Féin TD said. He’s due to learn more about his family connections to the county, before he heads to Ballina for his public address to the town. He’s headed for the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre, where he’s due to meet with the centre’s family history research unit and all eyes will likely be on whether or not he discovers another batch of cousins from the county.4 hours ago 5:22PM While Biden is in Mayo, his Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III is in Derry today.
5 hours ago 4:46PM “It was an extraordinary afternoon. I won’t forget it, I can tell you that it was quite something else.”5 hours ago 4:40PM While in Knock Shrine, Biden broke down in tears after he met with the priest who carried out the last rites on his son Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer in 2015.
He previously turned the sod on the site when he visited Ireland in 2017, describing his time in the area as a “deeply moving experience”. Raining in Knock as @potus walks across from Basilica to Apparition Chapel with Fr Richard Gibbons #rtenews #BidenVisit pic.twitter.com/B4ViSkNxul6 hours ago 3:35PM The motorcade has left Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock.
“We were chatting about that and it was a very relaxed chat. He’s thrilled to be here, and thrilled to be at Knock airport. 6 hours ago 3:22PM Biden touched the apparition wall as part of his tour of the Knock shrine in Co Mayo. 7 hours ago 2:48PM If you’re planning to attend the public event in Ballina this evening, here’s some details you might need to know:
“That is so important for a United States president in, you know, in our world today that we understand the rights of workers. After two heavy bouts of rain and hail, the sun is back out at Knock Airport ahead of Joe Biden's arrival in Co Mayo. @Irelandwest pic.twitter.com/V8kWuy8hPE8 hours ago 1:43PM Our Political Correspondent Christina Finn is in Co Mayo today to report on Biden’s visit. Ballina is kitted out for the Biden visit today, with US flags lining the streets along the drive into the town.8 hours ago 1:34PM Well, would you look who it is.
9 hours ago 12:31PM The Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Seamus Weir has said that he will be honoured to be the first person to greet President Joe Biden on his arrival in Mayo at Ireland West Airport Knock later this afternoon. 10 hours ago 12:04PM Biden was due to depart Dublin Airport at 11.45am for Ireland West Airport in Co Mayo. A warm sunny April day in Spring as all lies in readiness for an important domestic flight from @DublinAirport to our friends @Irelandwest for @potus @JoeBiden this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/3y87PBF2W910 hours ago 12:02PM Members of the media are gathering at Ireland West Airport ahead of the arrival of Biden this afternoon.
Chief Superintendent Raymond McMahon addressing Gardaí in Ballina this morning ahead of President Biden's visit to Mayo. #ItsAJobWorthDoing #BidenInIreland pic.twitter.com/TrRNSusbny10 hours ago 11:46AM The town of Ballina is going all our for Biden’s visit later. Branded coffee cups and all. “A man deeply proud of his faith, deeply proud of his heritage, and has paid tribute to that during his visit here, and I hope that as a Mayo man myself, that by the time he gets to the Moy River and St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina this evening, that they will give him one almighty welcome.”
“I think that was the wrong comment by Arlene. In fact, he often references his British heritage as well, in terms of his grand uncle had been involved in the British Navy, and I think he gave a personal anecdote about that. So I think that was misplaced. He’s not that type of person.” “And in many ways, it’s a tribute to the legacy of that past given his own personal family story of emigration, which resonates with many, many families and communities in Ireland, but it’s also a tribute to the rich possibility of the future, which I think he did focus on very significantly.”
“I’ve met all of the parties, and all of the parties are very anxious to get the institutions restored, the Assembly in particular, particularly those newly elected MLAs.”Air Force One plus 2 and 3 at Dublin airport #Biden pic.twitter.com/4HxhFiDTH810 hours ago 11:36AM Biden’s motorcade is ready and waiting to head off to Co Mayo.
A full breakdown of all the travel restrictions in place today and further information about tonight’s event in Ballina can be read here. US President Joe Biden and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar out watching camogie and GAA outside Farmleigh House @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/4Nk77guWoeThe US President later delivered a joint Oireachtas address in the Dáil where spoke of his pride at addressing the country’s politicians.
“I mean this from the bottom of my heart, there is nothing our nation’s can’t achieve if we do it together. I really mean it. So thank you all, and God bless you all. Let’s get it done.”10 hours ago 11:25AM The weather is looking far from the rainy conditions of Biden’s first day in Ireland.— Ireland West Airport April 14, 2023
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