Biden hails ‘enduring’ US-Irish bond in Dublin speech

Summary

US President Joe Biden has addressed a joint sitting of the Oireachtas (Ireland's parliament) - becoming the fourth American leader to do so
Biden is on a tour of the Republic of Ireland - having earlier been in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement
Today, he met Irish President Michael D Higgins at his official residence and also held talks with Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar
Biden wrote in the visitors' book at Áras an Uachtaráin: "Your feet will bring you where your heart is", and joked about "not going home" to the US
Thousands of people gathered to welcome him last night as he visited distant relatives in Carlingford, in the north east of the country

Live Reporting

Edited by Marita Moloney and James FitzGerald

'I learned a lot from the Irish president' - Bidenpublished at 13:18 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Joe Biden has emerged from Áras an Uachtaráin with President Michael D Higgins to plant the oak tree and ring the Bell of Peace.
After ringing the bell, Biden gave it another ring, saying: "One more for peace".
Asked by reporters how he's feeling, he said he's "great" and he "learned a lot from the president".
Higgins gave Biden a quick tour of the grounds around his official residence and introduced him to his dog.
Image source, RTE
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President Higgins' dogs were shier than normal as Joe Biden toured the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin
Sun shines on a jovial US president enjoying his 'homecoming'published at 13:13 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Marita Moloney
Live reporter
Good afternoon and thanks for joining our live coverage of Joe Biden's visit to Ireland.
The US president has been blessed with clear skies and sunshine on his second day in the Republic, a far cry from the downpours that failed to dampen his enthusiasm in County Louth yesterday.
After a quiet morning in Dublin, his engagements are ramping up this afternoon. He's currently in the official residence of the Irish president Áras an Uachtaráin.
He's already exchanged some warm words with President Michael D Higgins, joking about not wanting to go home. He'll take part in a tree planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell before departing for talks with the Taoiseach (Irish PM).
In the afternoon, he'll be just the fourth US president to address Irish parliament. Biden is clearly enjoying his return "home" to Ireland, sharing plenty of smiles and jokes.
My colleagues in London and Belfast will be bringing you more of his trip this afternoon, so stay with us as we bring you along on his day in Dublin.
Biden listens to Irish and US national anthemspublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
After signing the visitors' book, Joe Biden headed into the gorgeous Dublin sunshine to listen to a military band play renditions of the US and Irish national anthems.
After the musical interlude, the US president walked alongside ranks of assembled soldiers to inspect them.
Image source, Getty Images
WATCH: Biden exits The Beast to greet President Higginspublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
President Biden stepped out of his armoured car - The Beast - a short while ago donning a pair of sunglasses as the sun came out for his meeting with the Irish president this afternoon.
He was welcomed by President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, and the trio shared a warm exchange before they entered Áras an Uachtaráin.
A close up of the president's messagepublished at 12:36 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
The cameras also managed to catch a snapshot of the message Joe Biden wrote when he signed the visitors' book in Áras an Uachtaráin.
Image source, RTE
'I'm not going home, I'm staying here', jokes Bidenpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Image source, Reuters
It's fair to say Joe Biden is enjoying his visit to Áras an Uachtaráin (the president's residence) in Dublin.
After signing the visitors' book, he told the assembled photographers and reporters: "I'm not going home, I'm staying here."
Then he asked his audience: "Isn't this an incredible place, all you American reporters?
"Looks just like the White House, right?"
'Your feet will bring you where your heart is'published at 12:29 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Media caption,
Joe Biden: 'Your feet will bring you where your heart is'
After completing his message in the visitors' book, Joe Biden and Michael D Higgins had a brief conversation.
Biden then read out part of his message: "As the Irish saying goes, your feet will bring you where your heart is."
Biden says he reflected the honour of returning to the home of his ancestors and to "celebrate the things that bind Ireland and the United States".
Biden signs visitors' book at Áras an Uachtaráinpublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Image source, Reuters
The two presidents have now entered Áras an Uachtaráin where Joe Biden is signing the visitors' book.
Biden is accompanied by Irish President Michael D Higgins, and the pair will shortly go outside to the grounds of the Áras for a tree planting ceremony.
Irish president welcomes Biden with a handshakepublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Image source, Reuters
President Biden has arrived in his motorcade at Áras an Uachtaráin - the official residence of Irish President Michael D Higgins.
Biden is expected to inspect a military guard of honour, plant an oak tree to mark the occasion, sign the visitors' book and ring the Bell of Peace.
A delegation attending the event will include Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and former Irish football star Paul McGrath.
Image source, EPA
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President Biden was greeted by Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina
Irish military ready to greet Bidenpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Members of the Irish military are currently standing to attention outside Áras an Uachtaráin, ready to greet the US president in the bright Dublin sunshine.
Image source, EBU
President's motorcade en route to the Áraspublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Joe Biden's motorcade has just entered the gates of Phoenix Park, the large Dublin park where the Irish president's official residence is located.
It takes just a few minutes to travel the route through the park to Áras an Uachtaráin, so stay with us as we bring you the latest.
The significance of the Peace Bellpublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Image source, RTE
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President Michael D Higgins ringing the Peace Bell with his wife Sabina
As we've been reporting, Joe Biden will be ringing the Peace Bell alongside the Irish president in the grounds of his official residence today.
The Peace Bell was unveiled by former President of Ireland Mary McAleese in 2008 to mark the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
Dating from the 19th Century, the bell is suspended from oak trunks which came from County Antrim and County Dublin.
Now on the 25th anniversary, President Biden will also ring the bell just like many of his predecessors did.
Irish president awaits Biden arrivalpublished at 11:31 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Image source, EBU 1
Irish President Michael D Higgins is out on the red carpet at his official residence in Dublin ahead of Joe Biden's arrival, which is expected in the next few minutes.
The Tánaiste (Irish deputy PM) Micheál Martin is also waiting for the US president, as the sun shines down on Áras an Uachtaráin.
Like his predecessors, Biden will plant a tree in the presidential groundspublished at 11:18 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Image source, Independent News and Media/Getty Images
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Joe Biden will plant a tree with President Michael D Higgins in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin this morning, following in the footsteps of previous US leaders who visited the official residence. President John F Kennedy is seen here in June 1963
Image source, Independent News and Media/Getty Images
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President Ronald Reagan followed suit in June 1984
Image source, Independent News and Media/Getty Images
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And President Bill Clinton, pictured here with Ireland's first female president Mary Robinson, planted a tree in December 1995
Image source, Irish Government-Pool /Getty Images
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Most recently, President Barack Obama planted a tree while being watched by head gardener Robert Norris, President of Ireland Mary McAleese, first lady Michelle Obama and Dr Martin McAleese in May 2012
Northern Ireland and Ukraine likely high on today's agendapublished at 11:03 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Image source, REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Joe Biden will meet Irish President Michael D Higgins at his residence shortly, followed by Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar at nearby Farmleigh House.
Here's what we can expect today:
Northern Ireland Biden will be "very interested in hearing" from Ireland's leaders about "how they see the situation and developments" in Northern Ireland, Amanda Sloat, US National Security Council senior director for Europe, has said.
Irish Parliament Biden's speech this afternoon will refer to "areas of close partnership" between Ireland and the US and set out "a shared vision for the future", Sloat adds.
Ukraine Russia's invasion is also likely to be "high on the agenda in both of these meetings", Sloat has also said, particularly "given Ireland's participation in various aspects of US support for Ukraine".
In pictures: Biden's trip so farpublished at 10:55 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Image source, Reuters
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Joe Biden visited Northern Ireland briefly, and was greeted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, before making a speech at Ulster University yesterday
Image source, REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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The US president then travelling to the Republic, where he visited his ancestral home in County Louth and took a selfie outside a pub in Dundalk
Image source, Julien Behal/PA Wire
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He received a warm welcome by locals and spoke inside the pub alongside the Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin
Image source, .
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The pair then explored the grounds of Carlingford Castle in County Louth, before Biden departed for Dublin
What is Áras an Uachtaráin?published at 10:44 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Image source, Getty Images
First stop for President Biden in Dublin today will be to Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence and principal workplace of the president of Ireland, which is largely a ceremonial office.
Built in 1751, it is situated in the 1,752 acres of the Phoenix Park near Dublin.
The best-known view of the Áras is the garden front portico with its white columns. which has drawn comparisons with Biden’s residence, the White House.
There has also been unfounded speculation that the Irish born architect of the White House, James Hoban, took inspiration from what is now the Áras an Uachtaráin for his design.
Our journey to Áras an Uachtaráinpublished at 10:35 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Chris Andrews
Reporting from Dublin
For us, it was but a sample of presidential life - but the first motorcade to travel through Dublin city centre this morning was the media.
Under police escort we were taken through the busy streets towards Phoenix Park, which is now closed off completely.
The president’s residence - Áras an Uachtaráin- sits off the main avenue inside. Upon arrival we were taken through the building towards the state reception room where President Biden will sign a visitor book later this morning.
Why Ireland is so important to Joe Bidenpublished at 10:26 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Sarah Smith
North America editor, in Dublin
With two great-grandparents coming from Ireland, Joe Biden is one of the most Irish presidents in history.
He is inordinately proud of his personal Irish heritage. He mentions it at every opportunity. During the election campaign in 2020 he was asked by my colleague Nick Bryant for a "quick word for the BBC". He swiftly replied: "The BBC? I'm Irish!"
He loves to quote Irish poets and uses the experience of Irish citizens living under British rule as a way to express empathy with persecuted minorities around the world.
The Irish diaspora in America does not have the same outsized influence in US politics as it once did. But with 30 million Americans claiming Irish roots - that is about one in 10 of the current population - it never does any harm for a US president to be seen embracing his Celtic connections.
- Read more from Sarah here
Image source, .
Tree planting and the Peace Bell - what to expect todaypublished at 10:17 British Summer Time 13 April 2023
Chris Andrews
Reporting from Dublin
Image source, Reuters
Nestled between his days of family reunions and ancestry trails, today is the more formal part of the US president’s visit to Ireland.
The first stop, however, should make him feel right at home and not just because the White House bears some resemblance to Áras an Uachtaráin.
Biden has previously been hosted by Irish President Michael D Higgins at his residence during a 2016 visit as vice-president.
The leaders also share a love of Irish poetry, with Biden known to quote Heaney and Yeats among others in his speeches.
After a tree-planting ceremony and ringing the peace bell, it will be on to nearby Farmleigh House for a meeting with the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), before an address to the Irish parliament this afternoon.