"Ta me sa bhaile, I am home."
These were the words US President Joe Biden spoke to the Dáil chamber as he delivered a historic address to the Oireachtas.
Mr Biden became just the fourth president to address a joint sitting of the House of the Oireachtas as he delivered a special 31-minute speech in which he spoke about Ireland and America’s "partnership for the ages".
He also took the opportunity to correct his All Blacks gaffe on Wednesday evening in Dundalk, when he referred to the New Zealand rugby team as the "Black and Tans".
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Following a morning in Aras an Uachtarain and Farmleigh Castle, Mr Biden entered the Dáil Chamber shortly before 6pm.
He was greeted to rapturous applause from TDs and Senators, who gave him a lengthy standing ovation.
President Biden was introduced by Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, before starting his own speech.
Opening his hands to heaven, he said: "Well, mom. You said it would happen.
"As the proud son of Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, you knew it was coming.
"Speaker, chair, Taoiseach, all, deputy prime minister, TDs, senators, people of Ireland, it's so good to be back in Ireland.
"If you forgive the poor attempt at Irish, tá me sa bhaile, I am home."
During his speech at the Windsor pub in Dundalk on Wednesday night, he said that he was wearing a tie given to him by his "cousin" ex-rugby pro Rob Kearney. He noted that he was given the tie after he "beat the hell out of the Black and Tans" in Soldier Park in Chicago. He was referring to the match in 2016, when Ireland beat the All Blacks.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Biden said: "I always have a little bit of Ireland close by, even when I'm in Washington.
"In the Oval Office, I have the rugby ball signed by the Irish rugby team, the ball the team played when they beat the All Blacks in Dublin in 2021."
He emphasised the words All Blacks, as the chamber erupted into laughter.
President Biden spoke about Ireland and the United States' close relationship, calling it a "partnership for the ages" that "begins in our shared history, dating back to the very founding of the United States".
He also said that he was asked one day to "define America".
Mr Biden: "It's the God's truth. I said yes, I can in one word.
"If he asked me about Ireland, I would have said the same thing, one word - Possibilities.
"We believe anything is possible if we set our mind to it.
"We do it together. This is the United States of America and Ireland. There's nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together. We gotta believe that we gotta know that. Because that's the history of both our countries.
"This is about defending the values handed down to us by our ancestors, keeping the flame of freedom we inherited, the beacon that's going to guide our children and grandchildren.
"It is a struggle we are fit to fight together."
Mr Biden said that Ireland and the US "must rise up together."
The wife of the late poet Seamus Heaney, Marie, was in attendance in the distinguished visitors' gallery.
It would have been the late poet’s 84th birthday today.
He continued: "I was always quoting Irish poetry in the United States Senate over my career. That's a long career. 36 years.
"My colleagues always thought I did it because I was Irish. That's not the reason.
"The best poets in the world are the best."
He later quoted Mr Heaney’s poem, The Cure at Troy.
"History says, don’t hope. On this side of the grave.
"But then, once in a lifetime, the longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up and hope and history rhyme."
Mr Biden said: "So ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate the enduring partnership between our nations, our shared past, our present, let's set our eyes squarely on the future.
"Let's harness what's best in us. Our courage, our creativity, our loyalty, our tenacity and our loyalty again.
"Let’s once more for our generation and generations to come, strive to make hope and history rhyme.
"Because I've never been more optimistic about the future than I am today."
There was also a special moment for Labour Senator Rebecca Moynihan and her two-month-old daughter Margot.
The Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl pointed the baby out to Mr Biden. When he started his own speech, the President said: "Margot, I apologise to you, baby girl.
"You’re subjected to hearing the President of the United States have to deliver a policy speech."
Mr Biden, Senator Moynihan and Margot later took a picture together at the foot of the Dáil chamber stairs.
The Dáil chamber and public gallery were packed with guests, including former Taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, former Irish President Mary McAleese and former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.
Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy and Mr Biden’s distant cousin Rob Kearney were also in attendance.
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