“Oh the green and red of Mayo,” US President Joe Biden declared as he addressed almost 30,000 people in Ballina last night, before adding: “Mayo for Sam”.
President Biden remarked that his great, great, great grandfather sold 27,000 bricks to build St Muredach’s Cathedral in 1827, where he gave his address last night.
He said: “I doubt he ever imagined his great great great grandson would return 200 years later as President of the United States of America.”
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Mr Biden also thanked the people of Ballina for celebrating his presidential win in 2020.
He told the crowd: “It meant the world to me and my family to be embraced as Mayo Joe – Son of Ballina.”
The President said that the fact he had Irish family on both sides “rescued the fact that Biden was an English name”.
He added: “The truth of it is, being here feels like coming home.
“Stories of this place have become part of my soul.”
President Biden said that it was his “dream to bring his family to Ireland” and he got to do that in 2017.
He noted he turned a sod at the Mayo Roscommon Hospice, in memory of his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
There is a plaque in the hospice dedicated to Beau. President Biden said: “I can’t tell you how special it is that a piece of his legacy lives here among his ancestors.”
Mr Biden was back among his own when 27,000 people turned out to see him in his beloved Mayo last night.
He was given a rapturous welcome outside St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina, as he attracted crowds twice as big as expected.
Huge crowds waving American flags had thronged the streets for hours, to welcome home one of their own. Young and old clapped as the huge cavalcade arrived in the West of Ireland town after 9pm.
Shortly after 7pm, the Mayo ladies and men’s football teams were brought on to the massive platform outside Muredach’s Cathedral.
The Green and Red of Mayo, by Galway band the Saw Doctors, belted out over the speakers.
Mayo ladies captain, Diane O’Hora, said: “Welcome back home to Mayo Joe Biden, these are memories I’m going to treasure forever, there’s no show like a Joe show.”
The main keynote speaker before President Biden took to the stage was former President of Ireland, and Ballina local, Mary Robinson.
Mrs Robinson, who served as President of Ireland for two terms from December 1990 to September 1997, said she was thrilled to welcome President Biden to her beloved county.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror last night, local musician and one of the organisers of the Ballina Fleadh in the town in July, Eamon Walsh, said it was “the most exciting night in Ballina, ever”.
Mr Walsh said: “It was unbelievable, the atmosphere was absolutely electric, it’s been great all week really.
“The weather was a bit iffy, but Joe Biden has already said he doesn’t mind the rain, wasn’t he smiling through it in Louth on Wednesday.
“I was so proud to be from Ballina this evening. I think President Biden will really put this town on
the map.
“This was the most exciting night in Ballina, ever. And you, never know, he might come back for the Fleadh in July.” Famous political faces started arriving in the VIP area when the Coronas started playing their hits just before 7.30pm.
They included another former President, Mary McAleese, proud Mayo woman, Rose of Tralee winner in 2014 and Fine Gael MEP, Maria Walsh.
Mayors from other
counties and cities were there too, including Dublin’s Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy and Galway City Mayor Clodagh Higgins.
Mayo football legend and sitting Fine Gael TD, Alan Dillon, was one of the first to take his seat. There was the usual spattering of Cabinet ministers too, including Greens chief, Eamon Ryan and Fianna Fail’s Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
The Chieftains were the last performers to play. The last time
President Biden heard them live was in 2016, when founding member Paddy Moloney was still alive.
Mr Varadkar formally introduced President Joe Biden to the stage as dusk drew in.
The intermittent rain did not deter the public, who gathered along the banks of the River Moy for the final engagement of the 80-year-old’s four-day trip to Ireland.
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