Ballina Residents Celebrate Connection to President Biden
Ballina Residents Celebrate Connection to President Biden – Residents of Ballina, a small town in County Mayo, Ireland, marked a historic homecoming in 2023: the visit of President Joe Biden, who traces his roots to the town through his great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt. The president’s third cousin, Joe Blewitt, was invited to the White House for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in March 2023, ahead of the president’s own trip to Ireland the following month.
The special connection between Ballina and Scranton—the birthplace of Mr. Biden—is also something worth celebrating as many Scranton natives trace their lineage back to County Mayo, many to Ballina specifically. In 2016, Mr. Biden met Blewitt and his sister during a visit to the city and later enjoyed a private dinner with them while he was vice president.
2023 marked the 300th anniversary of Ballina’s foundation, and the town got the moment locals had hoped for: President Biden’s visit brought exactly the kind of attention they wanted to the city.
Cllr Jarlath Munnelly, who chaired Ballina 2023—the steering group that formally invited Mr. Biden to the town—had said the visit could be an opportunity for more than just a few handshakes, and so it proved. On 14 April 2023, an estimated 27,000 people packed the square outside St. Muredach’s Cathedral—built in part with bricks supplied by Mr. Biden’s great-great-great-grandfather—to hear the president declare himself “Mayo Joe, son of Ballina” in an emotional homecoming speech.
The lead-up to the visit was marked by many celebratory moments for Ballina residents, including Padraig Mitchell’s mural of President Biden going viral in 2020. Tourists from all over the world have continued coming to Ballina ever since, taking selfies with the mural and indulging in the local pub culture that Mr. Biden got a taste of during his visits to the town.
Locals still fondly recall the day the president came home, and community campaigners have since called for a permanent installation in the town to mark the historic visit.
President Biden’s Ballina homecoming remains one of the most memorable days in the town’s history—a reminder that this corner of County Mayo will always be part of his story, just as he is now part of theirs.
Why You Need The Ultimate Ireland Travel Guide (it’s Free)
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Why You Need The Ultimate Ireland Travel Guide (it’s Free)
Are you planning a trip to Ireland? If so, then the Ultimate Ireland Travel Guide is an essential resource. From money and travel documents to facts about Ireland and Irish customs, this guide will give you all the information you need for your trip.
County Mayo Ireland | Things to See and Do
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County Mayo Ireland | Things to See and Do
County Mayo is on the west coast of Ireland. Its scenery ranges from verdant to desertlike, with rocky cliffs at the Atlantic coast. Clew Bay is dotted with small, steep-sided islands, including Clare Island. At the eastern end of the bay, Westport town is known for its Georgian architecture and Westport House, a mansion with dungeons. Nearby is Croagh Patrick, a mountain linked to St. Patrick.
Which US President wore an Irish Claddagh Ring?
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Which US President wore an Irish Claddagh Ring?
Which US President wore an Irish Claddagh Ring?-The first recorded wearing of the Irish Claddagh ring by a president was by John F. Kennedy. He was given the ring by his wife Jackie Kennedy. Other presidents who have worn the ring include Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.
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