Ireland is recovering from a whirlwind trip to Belfast, Louth, Dublin and Mayo by that well known son of Ireland "Mayo Joe” Biden.
I was privileged to be part of Bill Clinton’s three trips to Ireland in the wake of the Good Friday Agreement when it seemed all of Ireland turned out to thank the President of the United States for the gift of peace.
It was an extraordinary experience that I will never forget.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to repay the hundred thousand welcomes Ballina, Ireland showed me – this moment is one that I’ll remember forever. pic.twitter.com/0SgP7LgO3u
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 17, 2023
This trip last week by Ireland’s favorite son, Joe Biden, was just as extraordinary, but in a different way.
It felt in many ways like the trip made countless times each and every year, the search by Irish Americans to reestablish links with the island of their ancestors, and with those forebears.
"It's an honour to be here, thank you very much."
US President Joe Biden receives a standing ovation as he finishes his address to the Houses of the Oireachtas | https://t.co/Aj01mopuXP pic.twitter.com/Ftzrd9aPZX
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) April 13, 2023
Despite the overlays of the essentials of an American President’s journey, the Secret Service, Air Force One, "the Beast," and even the half hearted attempt to inject policy into the trip, this was essentially a homecoming for Joe Biden, his son and his sister.
Ireland responded in kind. The full throated greetings in the streets, in the parliament, and the Irish president’s house, was not for the President of the United States, but for a native son, one made good and returning home.
That tone permeated Joe Biden’s every single step and stop. I was in the Dáil gallery when the president delivered his speech to the houses of the Irish parliament, the Oireachtas, Dáil and Senate. Both are famous for fractious debates. But both seemed to be well pleased by a day of unique unanimity, in their combined welcome afforded the American visitor and his entourage.
In the gallery, the members of the congressional delegation, Senator Ed Markey, Congressman Richie Neal and others, were joined by Senate legends Chris Dodd and Gary Hart.
On the Irish side, Senator Mark Daly and Minister John Ring greeted their many American friends. The delegation from the Irish for Biden Committee, the members of which had worked so hard to see this day, included Stella O'Leary, John Fitzpatrick, Kevin O'Malley, Kieran McLoughlin and Ted Smyth. All were visibly swelling with pride in what they had wrought.
Meanwhile, John McCarthy, not too many years away from his days as president of the Young Democrats at Catholic University, was busy shepherding the delegation in his role as Special Assistant to the President. While the rest of us were enjoying every minute of the trip we were really cognizant that John was tirelessly working 24/7 to assure that the presidential visit was an unqualified success.
Later that night, the magnificence of Dublin Castle, and the elegance of that setting, could not repress the narrative of the immigrant coming home.The crowd, made up of the elite of Ireland and Irish America, mingled for hours waiting for Joe, seriously late without exception during the trip, but without a whisper of complaint from his hosts.
Rather, all in the castle used the time to renew old acquaintances and make new friends. When at last the president and the taoiseach arrived they were greeted by trumpet sounds and a standing ovation. The warmth of this greeting, mercifully short given the lateness of the evening and the hunger of the crowd, only added to the feeling of old friends getting together for a bite to eat.
US President Joe Biden lands in Knock, Co Mayo, for private visit to shrine ahead of public address in Ballina | Live updates: https://t.co/WuBw7EPF3C pic.twitter.com/9FNcdRD2UW
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) April 14, 2023
For me, the highlight of the trip was being on the tarmac of Ireland West Airport in Knock, County Mayo when President Biden landed on Friday morning.
I am privileged to serve as International Chair of the airport and I was there along with Arthur French, our chairman and Joe Gilmore, our Executive Director, when Air Force One landed.
The airport, once derided by the select of Irish society, has now played host to a pope and a president. In what must be seen as a symbol of the trip, the teeming rain stopped as Air Force One came to a halt. The sun came out almost at the moment that Joe Biden alighted on Mayo soil.
From the airport the president travelled to the Knock Shrine where Father Richard Gibbons showed off his recently completed Basilica commemorating the apparition of Our Lady to villagers in 1879.
It was there that the most extraordinary moment of the trip occurred. One of the retired priests based at the shrine, a former U.S. Army chaplain, revealed himself to be the priest that gave last rites to Joe Biden's beloved son Beau, who died of brain cancer in the prime of his life.
The revelation moved Joe Biden to tears. Some called this an extraordinary coincidence; others may think of this as a second miracle at this sacred place.
President Biden finished his homecoming by hosting a massive rally in Ballina, on the banks of the River Moy.
President #Biden gets a huge homecoming response in Co Mayo before his speech at St. Muredach's Cathedral in Ireland. #BidenIreland pic.twitter.com/DlZrJkTyP6
— Deirdre Heenan (@deirdreheenan) April 14, 2023
I listened as he delivered what was the most personal speech of the trip. To the delight of the crowd he emphasized over and over his Mayo roots. In the end it was hard to discern whether Biden had come to Ireland for a short visit, or had actually settled in Mayo.
He concluded with three words that succinctly synthesized the eternal optimism of his entire audience. “Sam for Mayo,” he said to roars of approval.
Yes “Mayo Joe,” hope springs eternal in all Mayo's, and Ireland's, sons and daughters.
