Biden reflects fondly on Ballina visit

Former US President Joe Biden has reflected fondly on his 2023 visit to Ballina in a St Patrick's Day letter.

In the correspondence addressed to the Friendly Sons of St Patrick of Lackawanna County, an Irish-American association based in his home city of Scranton, President Biden said he wished to acknowledge his friend and former Mayor of Ballina, Mark Duffy, as well as the town of Ballina for the welcome he received in April 2023.

“Ballina is Scranton’s sister city and where my ancestors lived before making their journeys to America. Mark and the entire town gave the Bidens a homecoming welcome to Ballina we will never forget,” he wrote.

“It was there I was honoured to speak in front of the magnificent St Muredach's Cathedral built by labourers long ago, including Edward Blewitt, my great-great-great-grandfather, who worked in a local brickyard.”

President Biden reflected further on his historic speech outside the Cathedral.

"That day in Ballina, I wondered whether Edward could have imagined as he worked day and night to help erect that extraordinary building that 200 years later, his great-great-great-grandson would return as President of the United States of America.

"That's the Irish of it, isn't it? Our story has always been about possibilities. That's the story of America as well."

President Biden also extended "a hundred thousand welcomes" to former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife Fionnuala, who were special guests at the Friendly Sons' St Patrick's Day dinner recently.

"A Mayo man, Enda was an outstanding Taoiseach who did so much to strengthen the bonds of friendship between Ireland and the United States."

"Jill and I and our whole family were thrilled to see him in Ireland during my unforgettable trip there as President in 2023."