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US President Joe Biden Alamy Stock Photo

Coveney says US President Joe Biden hopes a trip to Ireland can happen soon

The Taoiseach first invited the US president to visit Ireland when Biden was elected in November 2020.

US PRESIDENT JOE Biden has said he hopes to be able to visit soon, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney.

The minister met the US president at a reception for leaders yesterday evening hosted by Biden. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin was to attend also, but due to his flight being delayed, he missed out on the event. 

Speaking to reporters in New York, the minister said:

“What was supposed to happen yesterday was of course, the Taoiseach was supposed to be meeting President Biden, I was supposed to be there as well, but the Taoiseach’s plane was delayed, so that couldn’t happen, so I went on my own instead.” 

“I had a very warm exchange, it was a short exchange with President Biden and his wife the First Lady,” he added.

“I said to him there is a country waiting for a visit and that he would be extraordinarily welcome when he comes back home effectively and he said to me that he was really looking forward to that visit and he hopes it can happen soon.”

“He raised the point with me that he had met the British Prime Minister yesterday and he had made it very clear that the peace accords, as they are referred to here, need to be protected in the context of the ongoing discussions and negotiations in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol,” he added. 

When asked if had a specific date in which the US president might make a trip to Ireland, Coveney said: “I certainly would be hopeful that it’ll happen in the not too distant future. But I don’t have a date.”

The Taoiseach first invited the US president to visit Ireland when Biden was elected in November 2020. 

During that phone call, Biden is understood to have spoken proudly about his Irish heritage. His ancestors emigrated from Mayo and Louth.

Biden spoke about Irish roots during his Ireland Funds dinner speech earlier this year.

“I inherited my mother’s side of the family’s overwhelming pride — overwhelming pride in being Irish — a pride that spoke to both continents’ heart and soul, and drew from the old and the new,” he said. 

In May 2011, US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle visited Ireland. There was much more fanfare over the visit, with thousands of people turning out in Dublin to catch a glimpse of Obama. 

The Obamas travelled to Moneygall, Co Offaly to visit the small village which is his ancestral home.

With reporting by Christina Finn in New York

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    Mute Richard Ahern
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 9:10 PM

    Great! It’s good that President Biden wants to come here and even nicer that quite a large number of people here will welcome him.

    127
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    Mute Frank Naughton
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 10:26 PM

    @Richard Ahern: just as they welcomed president Trump .

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    Mute Seán Ó Briain
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 11:37 PM

    @Frank Naughton: Nobody welcomed Trump.

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    Mute An Drew Bearla
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    Sep 23rd 2022, 12:03 AM

    @Seán Ó Briain: we literally rolled out the red carpet for Trump. We also had a Harp player.

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    Mute Darren Matthews
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    Sep 23rd 2022, 12:13 AM

    @Seán Ó Briain: ah here, that’s not correct, remember your wan howling next to the harp player?.

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Sep 23rd 2022, 8:16 AM

    @An Drew Bearla: yeah, that was bloody embarrassing

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    Mute OConnelj
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 9:05 PM

    Biden can speak for himself Coveney.

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    Mute Spartacus Ireland
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 9:32 PM

    A lot of leader shaping from Coveney, watch your back Leo :-)

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    Mute Will Roche
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 10:01 PM

    Do we know how much it will cost the Irish tax payer??

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    Mute Sequoia
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 10:11 PM

    @Will Roche:

    Couple of million, probably about 3-4. But will be worth tens of millions in free advertising across the US and probably another 10/12 in additional tourism dollars as a direct result.

    Now give up the whinging about things that are good for us you moany git.

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    Mute Marian O Donnell
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 10:55 PM

    Can We as a Country Afford to Bring him With the Cost of Living Crisis I Don’t think so.

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    Mute Paul Smith
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 10:08 PM

    Bring Garth Brooks back instead :)

    37
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    Mute Sequoia
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 10:11 PM

    Probably be MM’s only chance to meet him.

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    Mute Diarmuid O Brien
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 10:52 PM

    Please please please if he does make sure mehole is out of office.

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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Sep 22nd 2022, 9:09 PM

    In about six months, they can do the shamrock ceremony in Ireland.

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    Mute Dave Ryan
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    Sep 23rd 2022, 12:21 PM

    Are we sure hes even going to live that long….the man looks dead already and just heated up each day to make an appearance….

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