US President Joe Biden follows ancestral roots to Carlingford as part of Ireland trip
President Joe Biden has followed his ancestral roots to Co Louth as part of his trip to the island of Ireland.
The US president and his motorcade stopped off in Dundalk on Wednesday evening, with Mr Biden greeted with shouts of “Welcome home Joe” and waving American flags. Mr Biden had been due to fly by helicopter from Dublin to Co Louth, but plans were changed to a motorcade due to the weather conditions.
Earlier, locals had turned out in numbers on motorway overpasses as well as lining road sides approaching Carlingford despite heavy rain in an area.
In Dundalk, members of the public in ponchos and raincoats had been waiting to greet the US president with a sign reading “Dundalk welcomes President Biden” hung above Clanbrassil Street. Mr Biden went into McAteers The Food House restaurant on the same street shortly before 7.15pm, where he chatted with staff. Former Irish rugby player Rob Kearney was among those accompanying Mr Biden as he stopped off in the town.
The US President left Belfast earlier on Wednesday after delivering a keynote speech at Ulster University in the city centre.
He then flew to Dublin on Air Force One on Wednesday afternoon before travelling to Carlingford.
The town previously welcomed the leader of the free world back in 2016.
President Biden toured Carlingford Castle along with Tanaiste and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin.
The castle offers a view of Carlingford Lough where Mr Biden's great-great grandfather Owen Finnegan left via Newry port during the Irish famine in 1849 for a new life in the US.
As Mr Biden walked around the castle amid the rain, someone shouted up to ask him what he thought of the weather, to which the president quipped: "It's fine, it's Ireland."
During his speech in Belfast, the President commended the impact of the peace process.
He urged people to recommit to peace, and promised that both of the major parties in America share a bipartisan commitment to supporting the peace process.
Mr Biden also met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast's tallest hotel. The duo are understood to have discussed the current situation in Northern Ireland and the war in Ukraine.
During the remainder of his visit President Biden will visit a number of areas of Ireland he has ancestral connections to, including counties Louth and Mayo. Carlingford has had a heavy security presence in recent days, with US helicopters practicing taking off on a local GAA pitch.
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