Dublin: United States (US) President Joe Biden declared “I’m home” as he was feted on a visit to his ancestral homeland Ireland, whose story he said proved the triumph of hope over despair.
Gearing up for a potential election rematch against Donald Trump, the Irish-American Democrat dwelt on the success of Irish emigres in carving out a new life far from home.
The United States and Ireland were joined in “not just the hope but the conviction that better days lie ahead”, he said in a speech to the Irish parliament, after his motorcade was cheered by large crowds in Dublin.
Seeming to draw a firm contrast to some US Republicans’ dystopian vision for the future of America, Biden added: “We have the power to build a better future.”
But, following a testy visit to Belfast prior to Dublin, Biden also issued a pointed warning that the UK “should be working closer with Ireland” to protect a 25-year-old peace deal in Northern Ireland.
“Political violence must never again be allowed to take hold in this island,” he said to warm applause from the Irish audience, which included veteran nationalist leader Gerry Adams.
Adams, still a hate figure for many pro-UK unionists in Northern Ireland, hugged Biden after the speech, likely adding fuel to the unionists’ fire after their former leader Arlene Foster said that Biden “hates the United Kingdom”.
The White House strongly pushed back at that, and Irish Taioseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar said after meeting Biden in Dublin that the president was “keen to be supportive in any way that he can” to uphold the peace in Northern Ireland.
Biden backed efforts by the UK and Irish governments to end a unionist boycott of the devolved Belfast legislature, “but doesn’t want to be overbearing or interfering either”, Varadkar said.
Biden, who is only the second Catholic president in US history, earlier met Irish head of state Michael Higgins at his official residence.
Watched by fellow octogenarian Higgins, Biden tapped into his Irish roots for his message in the official guest book. “As the Irish saying goes, your feet will bring you to where your heart is,” he said he wrote, joking that he was going to stay in Ireland.
In parliament, he switched briefly from English to Irish, telling lawmakers and dignitaries: “I’m home.” Biden also took the opportunity to correct a gaffe that has gone viral, this time congratulating Ireland’s rugby team on beating New Zealand’s all-conquering All Blacks last year. AFP
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