LAST UPDATE | 12 Apr 2023
US PRESIDENT JOE Biden has set off for Dublin following his visit to Co Louth.
Biden had been due to travel by helicopter but bad weather scuppered those plans and he ended up travelling via the presidential motorcade.
But the visit to his ancestral homeplace saw him meet and greet locals, regale them with tales of his roots to the area and even make the odd gaffe.
He earlier sat down for a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast as he began his visit to Ireland.
The US president has also marked his visit to Northern Ireland with a speech at the new Ulster University campus in the city.
Over the coming days, Biden will meet Irish political leaders before making his way to Mayo as part of the visit.
Good morning, Hayley Halpin here.
Welcome to our liveblog on the first full day of US President Joe Biden’s official visit to Ireland.
We’ll bring you all the latest on his visit throughout the day.
Biden arrived in Belfast shortly after 9pm yesterday evening.
Before he left Joint Base Andrews earlier this afternoon, Biden was asked by reporters what he hoped to achieve by heading to Ireland.
This is what he said:
“Make sure the Irish Accords and the Windsor Agreements stay in place, to keep the peace. That’s the main thing.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted the US president after Air Force One landed at RAF Aldergrove last night.
The two leaders met briefly before the president drove away in an armoured car amid a scattering of snow.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris was also present as Biden alighted from the aircraft with US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy.
Watch the moment US President Joe Biden shakes hands with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the runway of Belfast International Airport
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 12, 2023
Read more on this moment: https://t.co/c8VcepLHoY
🇺🇸 🤝 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/oB6yugmmD7
It looks set to be a busy few days, with the US President due to head to Dublin, Louth and Mayo between today and Friday.
First up today, he’s due to meet with political party leaders in Northern Ireland, before making an address to Ulster University.
Then in the afternoon, Biden is off to Louth where he has some ancestral roots. In particular, he’s due to visit Carlingford and Dundalk for a walking tour of both towns.
Tomorrow, Biden will be in Dublin where he will travel to Phoenix Park, where he’s due to meet with President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Farmleigh.
In the afternoon, Biden will travel across Dublin city centre to Leinster House, where he is due to address a joint sitting of the Dáil and Seanad. It will be the fourth time a US President has addressed the Oireachtas, following on from speeches by John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
The trip will then conclude on Friday, with Biden heading to Mayo for a trip to both Knock and then Ballina.
The US President is due to make a public speech outside St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina.
This event is open to the public and anyone who wishes to attend can register here.
Biden is not travelling on his own to Ireland, but is with his son Hunter and sister Valerie.
Hunter Biden, the younger son of Joe Biden, is an attorney and former hedge fund manager. He’s previously spoken about his struggle with drug addiction and was the centre of a political storm surrounding his laptop.
Meanwhile, his sister Valerie has worked in politics for decades, having been the campaign manager for Joe Biden’s previous Presidential runs in 1998 and 2008.
One of the key parts of Biden’s visit to Ireland will be the security operation that takes place around it, with the cost of such an operation expected to run into the millions.
Both gardaí and military personnel will work on the operation, with Gardaí set to police locations in Ballina and Knock in Co Mayo, across Dundalk and Co Louth and of course in Dublin.
A massive search operation will be carried out by trained teams of gardaí – these gardaí will be taken off their regular duties and they act as the search team.
Every manhole cover along a cavalcade route will be searched, the roofs of buildings will be searched, the occupants of each building identified.
Along motorways, gardaí will be posted at culverts and manholes to ensure they are not interfered with.
Then at locations plain clothes garda detectives will be embedded in groups of dignitaries and crowds. There will be sniper teams from the garda Emergency Response Unit, augmented by their colleagues in the Irish army.
Traffic restrictions will be in place over the next few days to facilitate Biden’s visit, which will come as a headache to many commuters.
The Phoenix Park will be closed to all access, traffic and pedestrians, from 5pm today until 5pm tomorrow. Arrangements are in place for local access only.
The Office of Public Works (OPW), which operates the park, confirmed over the weekend that all gates, including pedestrian gates, will be closed during the 24-hour period.
Access will be provided to essential park staff, with arrangements to be confirmed in the coming days.
There will also be further local road closures, parking restrictions and traffic diversions in Louth, Dublin and Mayo, and these details will be published in the coming days.
Louth County Council has confirmed that Clanbrassil Street in Dundalk is the location for the walkabout by Biden this afternoon.
People are being asked to be in place in Clanbrassil Street no later than 5.30pm.
Those that know they will be in areas where the US president is due to visit should plan their journeys during this period to ensure to leave enough time for possible traffic disruptions and to expect some localised delays, said the gardaí.
In addition, Biden will arrive and depart at Dublin Airport at various times over the course of the four-day visit.
The gardaí have said that normal operations will continue at Dublin Airport at all times, however it is advised that members of the public travelling to the airport should allow additional time to get to the airport due to possible rolling road closures, particularly late Wednesday and early Friday.
Biden will arrive at Ireland West Airport on Friday afternoon.
Normal operations will continue at Ireland West Airport also, but again, those travelling to the airport should give themselves more time.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has spoken to Sky News this morning about Biden’s visit.
Sinn Féin President @MaryLouMcDonald shares her hopes President Biden's visit will end the DUP's "boycott" of parliament and "deliver for people in the North of Ireland, off all political persuasions, the government they deserve"#KayBurleyhttps://t.co/roTgsDv4pr
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 12, 2023
📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/dJfVdkkfjb
Here’s some details on Joe Biden’s speech in Ballina on Friday.
Ahead of Biden’s speech, there’ll be performances by The Coronas, The Academic as well as legendary folk band The Chieftains.
The Chieftains previously played for Biden when he visited Ireland in 2016 and are reuniting to play on Friday evening.
“This reunion of the band and President Biden will be an emotional one, since we lost the legendary Paddy Moloney in 2021,” US Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin said.
“I am honoured to say that The Chieftains will reunite one last time in honour of President Biden and play together for the first time since Paddy’s passing.”
Anyone interested in attending the event on Friday are being asked to register online here.
🎤 Musical Performances Announced! 🥁@TheCoronas @TheAcademic @thechieftains
— U.S. Embassy Dublin (@USEmbassyDublin) April 12, 2023
📅 Friday April 14
⛪️ Outside St. Muredach’s Cathedral
⏰ Gates 5:30PM
Register to attend
➡️ https://t.co/H53e8DAo0N pic.twitter.com/TinzDF00EA
Former US president Donald Trump isn’t too happy about Biden’s visit to Ireland.
In an interview with Fox News, he said: “The world is exploding around us. You could end up in a third world war. And this guy is going to be in Ireland?”
"The world is exploding around us. You could end up in a third world war. And this guy's gonna be in Ireland?" -- Trump on Biden's brief trip to Ireland pic.twitter.com/Tme2FNOVZ9
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 12, 2023
Biden will meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak again this morning for a bilateral meeting.
The leaders of Northern Ireland’s main political parties will also have the opportunity to engage with Biden before he delivers an address at Ulster University’s new £350 million Belfast campus.
The Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.
However, the White House said there will not be a formal group meeting with the leaders.
Sunak will not attend Biden’s keynote speech, with Downing Street yesterday denying that the engagement between the pair would be “low-key”.
Some more here from Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald’s interview with Sky News this morning.
She said there is a need to “stop this sense of limbo” in relation to the Stormont powersharing Assembly.
“I think undoubtedly President Biden will reflect on the great success of the last 25 years building peace.
“I think he will obviously reflect also on the huge role of the United States of America in that.
“I have no doubt that he perhaps shares certainly my disappointment, Sinn Fein’s disappointment that on this occasion marking 25 years of the peace accord, that the institutions aren’t up and running, that we still don’t have government in Belfast and that the DUP continues its boycott.
“So I hope there will be a very positive forward-looking message, I have no doubt there will be, but also a very clear message that now is the time to end the boycott, to stop this sense of limbo and to deliver for people in the north of Ireland of all political persuasions the government that they deserve. We’re nearly a year on now from the election last May.”
She described US President Joe Biden’s visit as “very significant”, adding: “I think throughout this process over many, many decades the importance of international partners in making peace in Ireland has been absolutely essential and none more so than the United States of America.”
With Biden kicking off his four-day visit in Northern Ireland, hardly any of the UK papers are leading with that story today.
The strike by NHS junior doctors is the most common story on the front pages, with King Charles III’s coronation, Wimbledon, phone thefts and the G7 all being deemed more important news than the Biden trip.
While several papers do feature pictures of Biden, only The Times leads on his visit, proclaiming that peace is his priority.
Wednesday's Times: Northern Irish peace is my priority, vows Biden #TomorrowsPapersToday #TheTimes #Times pic.twitter.com/42htI8d2kw
— Tomorrows Papers Today (@TmorrowsPapers) April 11, 2023
Tomorrow's Daily Mirror front page: Coronation Chaos Fear#TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/HsT0BWuxqX pic.twitter.com/6ymD7pvMAw
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) April 11, 2023
I: World economy in peril - as UK heads for worst growth in G7 #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/GbgqRqvLhH
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 11, 2023
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 11, 2023
'Union boss on holiday as doctors walk out'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/8ID7ohYh17
While there has been a mostly positive reaction to Biden’s visit, it has drawn some criticism.
People Before Profit in particular have stated their opposition to Biden’s arrival in Ireland, with protests and a boycott of the US President’s address to the Oireachtas.
The party is currently organising a series of public meetings on the topic of US foreign policy in Cork, Galway and Dublin over the course of this week.
The talks will focus on the “double standards” of Joe Biden’s administration in international affairs.
PBP TDs won't be attending Joe Biden's speech at Leinster House on Thursday.
— Paul Murphy 🏳️⚧️ (@paulmurphy_TD) April 11, 2023
Biden is a warmonger who provides huge military support to both Israel and Saudi Arabia. The US military is one of the world's largest climate polluter.
No to Biden, No to NATO, Defend Neutrality.
In a statement, PBP pointed to US military support Israel and Saudi Arabia and compared that with the American response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“While Biden arms Ukraine to fight an aggressor there, he arms the aggressor in Palestine,” the statement read.
A spokesperson for the party said that PBP would attend the Dáil sitting if party leaders were given the opportunity to ask questions or deliver statements.
US National Security Council Senior Director for Europe Amanda Sloat spoke with reporters this morning to give an overview of Biden’s trip.
The US President is to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak again this morning for a bilateral meeting.
It will be the third in-person meeting between the two leaders.
Sloat said the focus of the meeting will be Northern Ireland, as well as touching on the war in Ukraine.
“I don’t anticipate that the two leaders are going to be talking about a free trade agreement on this trip … I think their conversation is going to focus primarily on the situation in Northern Ireland given that that’s where they’re meeting, as well as the chance to touch base on Ukraine and some other issues,” she said.
Sloat said the two leaders had the opportunity to touch briefly on economic issues when they met in San Diego, a conversation which she said will be “furthered and deepened” when they meet in Washington in June.
Biden will then make an address to Ulster University where his remarks are to “underscore the readiness of the US to support the gains of the last 25 years” in Northern Ireland.
He will discuss how the next 25 years should be marked by “economic growth and prosperity”.
The US President will also meet with political party leaders in Northern Ireland.
In response to questions about the Northern Ireland Assembly, Sloat told reporters that Biden would “like to see the devolved institutions back up and running”, but that the main purpose of his visit is to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
“The main message of the President to all parties, to all people of Northern Ireland, is to reaffirm support of the Good Friday Agreement,” she said.
“And obviously pillar one and the devolved institutions here in Northern Ireland are a fundamental part of the Good Friday Agreement, and so I think the presidents message – as he said on St Patrick’s Day and I expect he will reaffirm today – is the United States’ strong support for that, the belief that the people of Northern Ireland deserve to have a democratically elected power sharing representative governance.”
Sloat was also asked whether Biden will try to dispel a perception that he is anti-British.
She said that the track record of the President shows that he is not anti-British.
“The UK remains one of our strongest and closest allies,” Sloat told reporters.
“That’s why the President wanted the opportunity to engage with Prime Minister Sunak this morning,” she said.
Speaking to GB News yesterday, former DUP leader Arlene Foster said that Biden “hates the UK, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that”.
“I just think the fact that he’s coming here won’t put any pressure on the Democratic Unionist Party at all, quite the reverse, actually, because he’s seen by so many people as simply pro-republican and pro-nationalist,” Foster said.
'Joe Biden hates the UK, I don't think there's any doubt about that.'
— GB News (@GBNEWS) April 11, 2023
Former First Minister of Northern Ireland Dame Arlene Foster says that Joe Biden's visit to Northern Ireland 'won't put any pressure on the DUP because he's seen by so many people as simply pro-republic'. pic.twitter.com/uE6qrLVuoc
When asked about Biden’s response to Foster’s comments saying he hates the UK, Sloat said it was “simply untrue”.
She said the President is a “proud Irish-American” but also a “strong supporter of our bilateral partnership with the UK” and also the partnership with the UK within Nato and G7.
The weather conditions are far from ideal for Biden’s visit.
Counties Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Galway have been under a Status Yellow warning since midnight. This will remain in place until 3pm today, with “very strong west to northwest winds developing”.
A second Status Yellow warning for Leinster, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary and Waterford came into place at 8am and will remain in effect until 8pm this evening.
The UK Met Office has also issued a yellow wind warning for Northern Ireland. This will come into effect from 11am this morning until 8pm.
Very windy or becoming very windy countrywide on Wednesday, with some severe or damaging gusts possible🌬️⚠️
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) April 12, 2023
Squally thundery showers will merge to a longer spell of rain for a time, but it will brighten up from the west through the afternoon and evening⛈️🌧️
Highs of 6 to 11 C🌡️ pic.twitter.com/bgQTJcl6cH
Phoenix Park
Tents have been removed from Phoenix Park and homeless people living in wooded areas have been relocated in preparation for the park’s closure today to facilitate Biden’s visit.
Biden will take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell with President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin tomorrow.
The park will be closed to the public, including rough sleepers, from 5pm today until 5pm tomorrow as a security measure for the visit.
Homelessness bodies are understood to have been engaging with people living in tents in Phoenix Park for the past several weeks, while gardaí met with the last three remaining people several days ago.
Camping is prohibited by the park’s bye-laws.
A tweet from Biden this morning:
Hello, Northern Ireland!
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 12, 2023
It's so great to be back. pic.twitter.com/A4PjLONoic
Hello, Lauren Boland here to take you through the latest developments for the next while.
There have been major security operations north and south of the border in preparation for Biden’s visit, but it appears some confidential information about PSNI officer positions has become public inadvertently.
The Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster has reported that a member of the public found a PSNI document in the street detailing officer deployments.
The PSNI responded that it is aware of a breach and that an investigation has commenced.
Rishi Sunak has arrived for his meeting with the US President. It will be the pair’s third time to meet in person and they’re expected to talk about Northern Ireland and the war in Ukraine.
The first of Biden’s political meetings on this trip is kicking off now as he sits down with Rishi Sunak.
Before he leaves Belfast, he’ll also meet briefly with leaders of Northern Ireland’s political parties.
Biden told reporters he is “here to listen” as he arrived the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast for the meeting with Sunak.
As he arrived on the upper floors the hotel, looking out at Belfast, he remarked: “Heck of a view out there.”
The New York Times had quoted a US official saying the meeting would be less of a bilateral meeting and more of a ‘bi-latte’ coffee morning, with reports of the meeting having been downgraded – leading a Downing Street spokesperson to say yesterday, when asked about the reports, that he would “not characterise” the plans as low-key.
We’ll see what we learn about what the two leaders discuss at the meeting when it wraps up.
Here’s another look at the two leaders as they started their meeting:
Thanks Lauren.
Hayley Halpin back here now, lunch had and ready to take you through the next few hours.
Biden is set to visit Ulster University this afternoon.
The university says a livestream will be available for people to watch as Biden delivers his key address.
Excitement is building.
— Ulster University (@UlsterUni) April 12, 2023
In an historic visit to NI, a live stream of @POTUS key address will be available for you all to watch on our website today. In addition, images & video from the event will be available on our website for you to enjoy. Visit now https://t.co/j6px54essn pic.twitter.com/6eAz0LD6Lm
The media is ready and waiting for Biden’s speech at Ulster University in Belfast.
Biden is expected to deliver his key address at Ulster University Belfast at 1pm.
The US President is then due to leave Belfast International Airport at around 2.20pm and head for Dublin Airport, arriving at around 3pm.
He’s due to leave Dublin at 3.50pm and head to Co Louth for 4.15pm.
He is scheduled to visit Kilwirra Cemetary in Co Louth at 4.50pm before touring Carlingford Castle at 5.20pm.
He is then due to visit Dundalk for 6.45pm.
Biden is expected to leave Co Louth just after 9pm and arrive in Dublin at around 9.30pm.
Biden has departed the Grand Central hotel and is making his way to Ulster University.
POTUS Joe Biden leaving the Grand Central @BelTel pic.twitter.com/QYxB3U3dqb
— Jessica Rice (@JessRice332) April 12, 2023
Biden has met with the leaders of the five largest political parties in Northern Ireland after arriving at the Ulster University campus in Belfast.
Sinn Féin Stormont leader Michelle O’Neill, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, Alliance leader Naomi Long, UUP leader Doug Beattie and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood each met with the president briefly.
Biden is due to deliver an address at the university’s new £350 million campus.
Guardian Brexit correspondent and senior reporter Lisa O’Carroll is reporting on the Northern Ireland political party leaders comments after their meeting with Biden:
Colum Eastwood, SDLP leader out of meeting with Biden. “What did he say?” “How are you man!”… “talked about the increment and the opportunities to get things moving here”
— Lisa O'Carroll (@lisaocarroll) April 12, 2023
Doug Beattie, UUP leader has just come out of meeting with Biden : “”had a nice chat about the GFA Belfast Agreement. Talked about the economic opportunities that we have. He takes about the relationship he had with the U.K. helping to write some of the rules for the British Navy
— Lisa O'Carroll (@lisaocarroll) April 12, 2023
Jeffrey Donaldson has finished his meeting with Biden. Naomi Long out 5 minutes later
— Lisa O'Carroll (@lisaocarroll) April 12, 2023
Ahead of Biden’s address, special envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III spoke to the crowd at Ulster University.
“We believe in Northern Ireland. We believe in you. We believe in your future. We believe in your kids, we believe in these amazing kids,” Kennedy said.
“A few weeks ago, a Harvard student from Belfast called themselves a peace baby, raised on hope and the Troubles’ fading memory,” he said.
“I’m so incredibly proud of President Biden’s commitment to those peace babies expanding their opportunity. I’m humbled by the chance to be a part of shaping that commitment.”
Rishi Sunak has said that he and Joe Biden spoke about the “incredible economic opportunities” for Northern Ireland, as he described the UK and US as “very close partners”.
Sunak described the UK’s relationship with the US as being “in great shape”, describing them as “very close partners and allies”.
He said he had a “very good discussion” with Biden in Belfast.
Sunak said they discussed economic investment in Northern Ireland as well as foreign policy issues.
“That comes on the back of a meeting I had with him last month in the US, I’m seeing him again next month at the G7 and then I’m going to Washington in June; we’re very close partners and allies, we co-operate on a range of things, whether that’s supporting Ukraine or economic security,” he said.
“I think actually the relationship is in great shape, and the President and I have lots that we’re working on together.”
US President Joe Biden is now addressing the crowd at Ulster University.
Biden says that he visited Belfast in 1991, adding that “you couldn’t have a glass building like this here in this neighbourhood, I don’t think”.
“Things are changing,” he says.
“It’s good to see Belfast City is alive with commerce, art, and I would argue inspiration, with dividends of peace are all around us,” Biden says.
“This very campus to situate an intersection where conflict and bloodshed once held a terrible sway,” he says.
“25 years ago this week the landmark Belfast Good Friday Agreement was signed. And it wasn’t easy,” Biden says.
“It took long, hard years of work to get to this place. It took a people willing to come together in good faith and to risk boldly for the future,” the US President says.
“It took people across all across Northern Ireland who made the choice to work for a brighter and a shared future,” he says.
“It took pioneering women across all communities and parties and said enough enough to demand change, as well as a seat at the negotiating table, including through the Northern Ireland women’s coalition,” he says.
“And it took a determined effort of my good friend who is someone who embodies a country’s commitment to all the people, all the people in this region, Senator George Mitchell.”
“The American people are with you, all of the way, it’s real,” Biden says.
“Supporting the people of Northern Ireland protecting the peace preserving the Belfast Good Friday agreement is a priority for Democrats and Republicans alike in the United States,” Biden says.
“And that is unusual today, because we’ve been very divided on our parties. This is something that brings Washington together and brings America together,” he says.
Here’s a snippet of Biden’s speech:
President Joe Biden begins his speech at Ulster University with jokes, thank yous and reflection.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 12, 2023
He begins by recalling his last visit in 1991, when you could not have a "glass building in this neighbourhood - it wouldn't have stood up"https://t.co/roTgsDv4pr
📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/ctVf2hStMP
“Today’s Belfast is a beating heart of Northern Ireland and is poised to drive unprecedented economic opportunity investment from communities across the UK across Ireland across the United States,” Biden tells the crowd at Ulster University.
“The simple truth is peace and economic opportunity go together. Peace and economic opportunity go together,” Biden says.
“There are scores of major American corporations wanting to come here, wanting to invest,” he says.
Biden tells the crowd that peace was “not inevitable” in Northern Ireland.
“Thousands of families had been affected by the Troubles. The losses are real, the pain was personal,” he says.
“Every person killed in the Troubles left an empty dining room table,” Biden says.
“Peace was not inevitable, we can never forget that,” he says.
“But they kept going because they never stopped believing that success is inevitable.”
Mentioning Brexit, Biden says: “I know the UK is departure from the European Union credit complex challenges here in Northern Ireland.
“And I encourage the leaders of the UK, the EU to address the issues in a way that serve Northern Ireland’s best interest.”
Biden calls for the restoration of powersharing at Stormont.
He says: “I believe the democratic institution established in the Good Friday Agreement remain critical to the future of Northern Ireland.
“It’s a decision for you to make, not for me to make.”
But he says “an effective, devolved government that reflects the people of Northern Ireland and is accountable to them, a government that works to find ways through hard problems together” would help draw “even greater opportunity” to the region.
“I hope the assembly and the executive will soon be restored,” he says.
“That’s a judgment for you to make, not me.
“I hope it happens, along with the institutions that help facilitate north-south and east-west relations, all of which are vital pieces of the Good Friday Agreement.”
More footage from Biden’s speech here:
President Joe Biden states "protecting" and "preserving" the Good Friday Agreement is a priority for Democrats and Republicans in the US.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 12, 2023
'It is something that brings Washington and America together.'https://t.co/roTgsDv4pr
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/KTpEZIZfts
“Today I come to Belfast to pledge to all the people of Northern Ireland that the United States of America will continue to be your partner in building the future the young people of our world deserve. It matters to us, to Americans, and to me personally,” Biden says.
Biden has finished up his speech and is now mingling with some of those present in the crowd.
You can catch up on Biden’s speech in full here:
WATCH: US President Joe Biden gives speech at Ulster University in Belfast | Follow live updates: https://t.co/mkYvokyNyh
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) April 12, 2023
https://t.co/mcgrSWbgbv
Sometimes — especially with the distance of history — we forget how hard-earned the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement's peace was.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 12, 2023
It shifted the political gravity of our world.
I want the people of Northern Ireland to know: we were with you every step of the way. And we still are.
To the young people of Northern Ireland –
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 12, 2023
Your history is our history.
Your future is our future.
It’s hard to communicate just how deeply invested in your success people across the United States are.
The lesson of the Good Friday Agreement is this:
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 12, 2023
In times when things seem fragile or easily broken – that is when hope and hard work are needed most.
Biden has posed for a photo with actor James Martin, whom he gave a shoutout to during his speech.
President Biden just got his pic with Oscar winner and An Irish Goodbye star James Martin pic.twitter.com/8RG60GmM57
— Amanda Ferguson (@AmandaFBelfast) April 12, 2023
Another tweet from the @POTUS Twitter account this afternoon:
Mr. Prime Minister, it’s great to see you again.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 12, 2023
I’m glad to be here and mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which has brought peace and prosperity to Northern Ireland.
I look forward to working together to unlock Nothern Ireland's vast potential. pic.twitter.com/w2Q9sGseqR
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson insisted Biden’s visit had not changed the political dynamic on the powersharing impasse.
“I had a brief conversation with the President and he made clear that it’s not his job, as we heard in his speech, to take decisions for political leaders in Northern Ireland,” he said.
“But the United States stands ready to support Northern Ireland in whatever way it can. So I welcome his visit here today, it’s good to see the president coming and we hope to see investment into Northern Ireland flowing from his efforts and those of his special envoy (Joe Kennedy).”
Commenting on the presidential visit, Donaldson added: “Well, it doesn’t change the political dynamic in Northern Ireland, we know what needs to happen.
“And I’ll be meeting my team over the next few days and we’ll be going back to the (UK) Government. We believe the Government needs to go further in terms of protecting Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom and our ability to trade within the UK internal market and that’s what needs to happen now to enable us to move towards the restoration of the political institutions, we need the Government to deliver what they’ve said they will do, which is to protect our place in the United Kingdom.”
DUP MP Jim Shannon has told Sky News that Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland is welcomed but would have been better if he had come with “some ideas” when it came to unionism and powersharing.
“It would have been better if he had come with some encouragement,” Shannon said.
He said that large proportion of the electorate in Northern Ireland had not had the involvement in the process to find a solution.
“Maybe President Biden could find a way to encourage the government and prime minister in particular to try and find an solution that involves a large part of Northern Ireland that are not a part of this process so far,” he said.
Biden will no longer travel by helicopter to Co Louth due to bad weather conditions, Irish Government officials have said.
The US President will travel to his first set of engagements in the Republic of Ireland via motorcade, they said.
Messages displayed today on the Black Mountain which overlooks the city of Belfast, in Northern Ireland.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris has said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did not “snub” Biden by not attending his address at the Ulster University campus in Belfast.
He told reporters: “No, they had their bilateral this morning. The Prime Minister has got other private engagements that he has gone to.”
Pressed that it was a major address by a US President in a city where the Prime Minister was, Heaton-Harris insisted Sunak’s private visits were a “perfectly legitimate thing to do”.
“Actually the two of them get on really well, they meet each other all the time … the relationship is great.”
Sinn Féin Stormont leader Michelle O’Neill has described the visit of Joe Biden to Belfast on the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement as “being about momentum”.
“This is about cementing the relationship that we have between Ireland and the United States, and I think today’s message has been very clear around peace, stability, prosperity, opportunity, it’s very much forward looking and young people focused,” she said.
Asked about her meeting with Biden, O’Neill said it was a short meeting, and welcomed what she termed the strong commitment to the peace process by the US.
“They’ve been so heavily invested over the last 25 years, they’re going to stay the journey, they’re going to stay the path with us, and they’re going to be with us into the next 25 years, and that’s why today’s focus of hope, opportunity, looking towards the future, to me, this is a momentous day,” she said.
Michelle O’Neill has said Biden “sent a clear message to the DUP”.
The DUP are continuing to refuse to go into the Assembly until their concerns around the Northern Ireland Protocol are dealt with by the UK government.
Speaking following her brief one-on-one meeting with Biden, and hearing his speech in Belfast praising peace in the region compared to the Troubles, O’Neill said she felt his message was “on the right note”.
“I think he sent a very clear message that everything that has been achieved over the past 25 years is something to be celebrated, but he very much was future focused, he was looking forward to the next 25 years, it was about the hope and the opportunity, but I think his message was clear, we need peace, we need stability and we need prosperity, those things all go hand in hand,” she said.
“I think his message was very much on the right note.”
She added: “I think the message here from this visit is going to be one about peace, prosperity and about stability, and that means we need the political leg of things to work as well. I’m committed to making it work.”
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been asked if he believed Biden was “anti-British”.
Donaldson replied: “I welcome his reference today to the Ulster Scots who made such an enormous contribution to the building of the United States of America. I think that is an indication, an acknowledgement from the President of the United States of the very special contribution that Northern Ireland has made to the building of his country.
“And his reference also to his own British ancestry, I think indicates hopefully that we have a president that recognises the United Kingdom is a close ally and friend of the United States.”
Reacting to Biden’s comments on a return of powersharing, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said: “I am clear what needs to happen to make the progress that we all desire – and that is that Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom is both respected and protected, and we want to see that in law.”
He added: “It’s good to see the President here and we always welcome our visitors to Northern Ireland.
“But, in the end, will it change the political dynamic? That’s up to the people of Northern Ireland and to the leaders of Northern to get the solutions that we need to move Northern Ireland forward and in that sense we will continue to work every day to get those solutions.”
Biden has boarded Air Force One at Belfast International Airport.
The flight is due to take off shortly and head to Dublin Airport.
US President Joe Biden is on board Air Force One and is preparing to leave for Dublin Airport now.
— Tadgh McNally (@TadghMcN) April 12, 2023
Also aboard is his son Hunter Biden, his sister Valerie Biden Owens, as well as Secretary of State Antony Blinken. @thejournal_ie
US President Joe Biden has arrived at Dublin Airport.
Biden has arrived in Dublin, Ireland pic.twitter.com/dtA65nB4fg
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 12, 2023
Pictured is Air Force One on the runway at Dublin Airport.
Air Force One has just touched down at @DublinAirport. @POTUS @JoeBiden has arrived in the Republic of Ireland for his three day trip taking in Dublin, Louth and Mayo. Cead Mile Failte pic.twitter.com/QB4JJEhnfO
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 12, 2023
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is among those at Dublin Airport to greet Biden.
Biden’s motorcade has begun its journey off Dublin Airport’s runway and will make its way to Co Louth.
That’s all from myself, Hayley Halpin, for today.
My colleague Diarmuid Pepper will keep you up to date for the next few hours.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has welcomed Joe Biden to Dublin, as he begins his journey to Co Louth.
Real pleasure to welcome @POTUS to Dublin today. Looking forward to a good discussion in Farmleigh tomorrow after his trip to County Louth pic.twitter.com/GlBRoq3aeX
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) April 12, 2023
It’s a mammoth task to organise a presidential visit and Louth County Council provides a glimpse of the work that has been undertaken in Dundalk.
What goes on underground stays underground!
— Louth County Council (@louthcoco) April 12, 2023
Over 40 manholes were checked and sealed off in preparation for visit by @POTUS by @louthcoco in conjunction with @GardaTraffic in Dundalk pic.twitter.com/9NXADBXpTW
Dublin City Council has also provided an insight into the inner workings of preparing for a presidential visit.
This afternoon, Dublin City Council confirmed that bins in the city centre will remain sealed and covered until Friday.
This follows a request from An Garda Síochána to cover and seal bins in the city centre and along Biden’s designated travel route.
The public is asked to dispose of their waste at the next available bin outside of these designated security areas.
For those planning to brave the conditions for a glimpse of Biden in Co Louth this evening, Louth County Council has issued this guidance:
For your safety when attending to see @POTUS tonight:
— Louth County Council (@louthcoco) April 12, 2023
Walk around crowds don't push through
Take time & avoid the rush when the event is over
If you're caught in a moving crowd, walk sideways or diagonally across it to work your way out.#StaySafe #ProudToBeLouth #YourCouncil https://t.co/5mijKD6dlf
Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill shares her snap with Biden and welcomes “his commitment to working together with us to build a brighter, better future for all our people”.
I was delighted to welcome President Joe Biden to Belfast today, cementing our partnership for peace and prosperity with the United States of America.
— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) April 12, 2023
It is great to see President Biden so deeply invested in the continued transformation of our society, and I welcome his… pic.twitter.com/yrNdoWT3jB
Biden had been due to visit Kilwirra cemetery in Co Louth to see the Finnegan family grave, but that has now been shelved due to bad weather.
Instead, the US president will go straight to Carlingford for a tour of Carlingford Castle.
Biden is currently en route to Carlingford, but after touching down in Dublin Airport, he dropped in to Dublin Airport Fire Station.
There were about 250 embassy officials and their young children present.
He thanked everyone for being there, and remarked upon the importance of firefighters.
Here’s a video from Dublin Airport of this encounter.
After landing at @DublinAirport, President Joe Biden @POTUS dropped into the Dublin Airport Fire Station to meet with his “good friend” @LeoVaradkar and American families living here in Ireland. pic.twitter.com/7YP8c5WCMc
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 12, 2023
Before making his way for Co Louth, Biden stopped in to greet around 250 people at the Dublin Airport Fire Station.
Here are some images from that engagement.
The White House has released a read-out from Biden’s relatively brief meeting with British prime minister Rishi Sunak at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast earlier today.
The readout states: “The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, marking the 25th anniversary of a landmark agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland.
“They also welcomed the Windsor Framework as an important step in preserving that peace and progress.
“In addition, the leaders exchanged views on a range of global issues, including their continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression.”
The US Embassy in Dublin with some images of people awaiting Biden’s arrival in Carlingford.
The crowds eagerly awaiting @potus to arrive in Carlingford, County Louth. pic.twitter.com/ua6oiOzIKU
— U.S. Embassy Dublin (@USEmbassyDublin) April 12, 2023
Niall O’Connor here, I’m taking over the liveblog. President Joe Biden is minutes away from Carlingford. Our reporter Tadhg McNally is in Dundalk and we’ll be giving you live updates here.
Here is Jennifer Jacobs who is a reporter with Joe Biden and an image of the arrival at King John’s Castle in Carlingford.
It’s raining but plenty of local people out to catch a glimpse of the US President.
Biden’s touring County Louth, home of his Finnegan ancestors. His granddaughter Finnegan’s named after them. His great-grandpa James Finnegan, born in 1840, was baptized at church near Dundalk and Carlingford, per White House. James and family immigrated to US when he was 9. pic.twitter.com/CmWXFrJ7LG
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 12, 2023
Here is an image of Biden with Tánaiste Micheál Martin at St John’s Castle in Carlingford.
Here is the missive issued by the White House to their crew of reporters along for the trip.
“Carlingford Castle would have been the last Irish landmark that Owen Finnegan (President Biden’s maternal great-great-grandfather) saw before he departed for New York. From the castle, the President will look across the water to Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, from where Owen Finnegan departed the port of Newry over 174 years ago on March 31, 1849.
“The water view from the Carlingford Castle is Carlingford Lough, a bay that empties into the Irish Sea.
“The Carlingford Pipe Band, a four-piece bagpipe and drum ensemble, will play an original piece titled “A Biden Return.” In 2020, they performed another original anthem, entitled “Our Local Joe,” written as part of a local parade held in celebration of then-President-Elect Biden. They have played at festivals, sporting events, and international parades, including the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day parade in 1989.”
Meanwhile a few kilometres away our colleague Tadgh is reporting from Dundalk where people are waiting for the big arrival.
Crowds gathered on Clanbrassil Street in Dundalk as President Joe Biden prepares to arrive in the town.
— Tadgh McNally (@TadghMcN) April 12, 2023
It's fairly wet and doesn't seem like it'll be letting up any time soon pic.twitter.com/DkcsfIPiX4
Biden, standing next to Micheál Martin, shouts down to reporters when asked about the weather: “It’s fine, it feels like coming home”.
He is off now for a tour of the castle – one of those with him is former rugby player and Biden relative Rob Kearney.
Some of the crowd waiting to say hello to the US President in Co Louth.
Biden is now leaving the castle and heading for Dundalk.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin was with him and he earlier spoke to US network CNN.
Martin said Biden’s trip to his ancestral homeland of County Louth is “symbolic” of the benefit of the peace process.
“President Biden’s ancestral heritage – if you like – is right in the middle of the reconciliation process and the reconciliation agenda that has been at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement,” Martin said.
“I believe that it is important that those institutions (Stormont) are restored for the people of Northern Ireland so that the basic issues of the day – from health to education to housing – are debated by the people’s representatives in parliament as determined by the recent assembly elections,” he added.
President Joe Biden took time out at Dublin Airport to meet some of the crew of the Fire and Rescue Service at the airfield.
Joe Biden has arrived in Dundalk – now waiting to see him get out of the Beast and start meeting the locals.
Here is our reporter Tadgh McNally’s video from Clanbrassil Street in Dundalk.
US President Joe Biden meeting and greeting with the people of Dundalk this evening @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/RdcBe9yjRt
— Tadgh McNally (@TadghMcN) April 12, 2023
Joe Biden has called into McAteer’s Foodhouse on Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk to say hello to the staff – he has also spent time chatting to local people.
The images coming from the photographers in Dundalk are great – lots of people having the craic with the visiting President. He’s still in McAteers Foodhouse but will shortly make his way to Windsor’s Bar.
President Joe Biden is en route to Windsor Bar now for a drink – it won’t be a pint for Biden as he is a teetotaller.
McAteers The Food House, a local market and deli was a spot he called in to see meet some local people.
Biden greeted the crowds of people along the street, many of whom were waving small American flags. Biden took a handful of photos, shaking hands as he moved down the line. Hunter Biden and Valerie Biden Owen were also spotted shaking hands and talking with onlookers.
Biden then entered McAteers, greeting people inside before making his way over to the deli counter, where 10 workers had gathered.
Biden was introduced to each of the workers owner Jerome McAteer. McAteer introduced one worker by saying “he does more talking than working.”
“I don’t know, he sounds like me,” Biden responded.
After Biden’s son, Hunter, came up asked if he was going to order, Biden said he was just looking. “Well I may want to order something,” Hunter said.
Later, Biden said “I don’t know why the hell my ancestors left here. It’s beautiful.”
Here is another tweet from our man in Dundalk Tadgh McNally:
US President Joe Biden has now left the Food House and is making his way to the Windsor Pub and Restaurant.
— Tadgh McNally (@TadghMcN) April 12, 2023
He's due to make some remarks at the pub, with some local TDs set to be in attendance pic.twitter.com/U7so3vNdeG
At the Windsor Bar on Vincent Street, Dundalk Biden will meet local residents.
He will also meet representatives from the International Fund for Ireland.
The International Fund for Ireland (IFI) was established as an independent international organization by the Irish and British Governments in 1986.
The body was established as the result of a bipartisan initiative by Speaker Tip O’Neill and President Reagan and is the vehicle for Congressional funding for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The United States has contributed $551 million to the IFI since 1987.
The entertainment at the pub will be Patricia Treacy, an award-winning musician and violinist from County Louth who played at the President’s inauguration and traveled to Washington, D.C. to perform at the White House St. Patrick’s day celebration in 2022, and the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland, a youth orchestra based in Dundalk.
They’re inside in the Windsor now and Tánaiste Micheál Martin is on his feet giving a speech.
The thrust of his comments are about how Dundalk and the surrounding area of Louth gave solace to people fleeing the violence in the North during the Troubles.
“Peace is not an abstraction – it is the weave of people’s daily lives,” he said.
“Feels like home,” as Joe Biden entered the bar.
Earlier his sister Valerie Biden Owen came in to take her seat in the first row, joking with those waiting that “it’s not easy to raise an older brother.”
Biden has repeated his earlier comments that he understood why his family fled to the US during the famine but added: “When you are here why anyone would want to leave – it is good to be back”.
Biden joked about Micheál Martin’s bout of Covid while he was Taoiseach on a St Patrick’s Day trip to Washington DC.
Biden paid tribute to the people of Dundalk and the County of Louth – he also commented how Carlingford Castle was likely the last sight of the locality as they fled the Famine and emigrated to the US.
That’s me done now – Tadgh McNally will have a piece from Dundalk shortly with plenty of the scenes and events of the visit.
Eoghan Dalton is now taking over. Good night all.
Joe Biden has reminded all present of the day his cousin Rob Kearney “beat the hell out of the Black and Tans” in Chicago. We think he may have meant the All Blacks.
Aside from the gaffes, Biden’s remarks focused largely on his family and ancestry.
“Thank you all for the homecoming welcome,” he said at the conclusion of his remarks, joking that the “bad news” is that he’s going to come back in the future.
“There’s no way to keep us out. Thank you.”
Joe Biden is away off to Dublin now after the day in Louth. He briefly greeted the crowd waiting outside the Windsor before getting into the Beast, with the motorcade now rolling towards the capital.
Tomorrow’s agenda for the US President will see him meet with his Irish counterpart Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin, before a meeting with with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
In the afternoon, Biden will address the Houses of the Oireachtas at Leinster House.
Here’s a final wrap from my colleague Tadgh McNally.
Tune in again tomorrow when we’ll bring you the latest on Joe Biden’s visit to Ireland, where he’s set to do a tour of politicians from Áras an Uachtaráin to Leinster House. Good night all.
Good morning all, good timing for your eleven break time. The Irish army military guard of honour drawn from the 27th Infantry Battalion has just been called to attention.
The people of Louth will be jealous of today’s conditions as the Áras an Uachtárain is bathed in bright sunshine.
I’ll be bringing you updates while Hayley is away. Our colleague Lauren Boland is in the Áras and she will be feeding in information here. Biden is due at 11.15am.
Captain Michael Crawley is in charge of the Guard of Honour who are all based in Dundalk.
The 2 Cavalry Squadron are providing the motorcycle escort. Information is that President Biden is due to leave his hotel shortly to make the short trek towards the Phoenix Park.
Good morning all, good timing for your eleven break time. The Irish army military guard of honour drawn from the 27th Infantry Battalion has just been called to attention.
The people of Louth will be jealous of today’s conditions as the Áras an Uachtárain is bathed in bright sunshine.
I’ll be bringing you updates while Hayley is away. Our colleague Lauren Boland is in the Áras and she will be feeding in information here. Biden is due at 11.15am.
Captain Michael Crawley is in charge of the Guard of Honour who are all based in Dundalk.
The 2 Cavalry Squadron are providing the motorcycle escort. Information is that President Biden is due to leave his hotel shortly to make the short trek towards the Phoenix Park.
President Biden is running late – he is delayed down in the city centre at his hotel – the Conrad in Dublin 2.
Gardaí are awaiting departure outside there at the moment.
To give those who are not Dublin residents an idea of its location, the Conrad is located near Stephen’s Green, just across the road from the National Concert Hall near the Iveagh Gardens.
The delay will be long because traffic has started moving again on Conyngham Road – which is just outside the Pheonix Park.
President Biden is running late – he is delayed down in the city centre at his hotel – the Conrad in Dublin 2.
Gardaí are awaiting departure outside there at the moment.
To give those who are not Dublin residents an idea of its location, the Conrad is located near Stephen’s Green, just across the road from the National Concert Hall near the Iveagh Gardens.
The delay will be long because traffic has started moving again on Conyngham Road – which is just outside the Pheonix Park.
President Biden is running late – he is delayed down in the city centre at his hotel – the Conrad in Dublin 2.
Gardaí are awaiting departure outside there at the moment.
To give those who are not Dublin residents an idea of its location, the Conrad is located near Stephen’s Green, just across the road from the National Concert Hall near the Iveagh Gardens.
The delay will be long because traffic has started moving again on Conyngham Road – which is just outside the Pheonix Park.
The White House press office has just said the cavalcade has left the Conrad Hotel and is en route.
The garda helicopter has arrived over the Phoenix Park – advance motorbikes have also arrived in the area.
Keep your eyes out for a sight of the Joe Show if you are out and about in Dublin 8.
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