Dublin [Ireland], April 14: US President Joe Biden declared he was home as he made a historic address to a packed Irish Parliament where he spoke of the strength of the Irish-US relationship and promised a future of unlimited shared possibilities.
The US president was welcomed with sustained, rapturous applause as he entered Dublin's Leinster House chamber to deliver a speech on Thursday.
Asking to be forgiven for his attempt at speaking the Irish language, he said: "Tamesabhaile" (I am home). Biden is the fourth US president to address the Irish Parliament after John F Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995. He said it was "one of the great honours of [his] career to be here today." In his address, Biden praised the "enduring" strength of the Irish-US relationship as he promised "a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities." Big names in Irish politics and society assembled for the speech, as well as some members of the US Congress, a senator and Biden's sister Valerie and son Hunter.
Former Irish president Mary McAleese and ex-taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny were present, as was former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.
Biden spoke of the "precious" peace that must be "nurtured" in Northern Ireland as he suggested the United Kingdom should work more closely with the Republic of Ireland to support the region. Reflecting on discussions with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, he spoke of "how Ireland and the United States can work together with the United Kingdom and the European Union to support the people of Northern Ireland". Biden said: "I think the UK should be working closer with Ireland in this endeavour. Political violence must never be allowed again to take hold on this island." Representing Northern Ireland politicians were Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Colum Eastwood, cross-community Alliance chief Naomi Long and Sinn Fein's Northern Ireland leader Michelle O'Neill.Despite being invited, no unionist politicians attended.
The passionate address, which lasted around 30 minutes, began with Biden looking upward and saying: "Well, mom, you said it would happen." He also referenced his son Beau, who died aged 46 in 2015 after suffering from brain cancer, with Biden saying: "As a matter of fact, he should be the one standing here giving this speech to you."
The speech contained numerous references to the president's family history and how his story is like many other Irish Americans who left the island searching for a new life. He told the crowd: "These stories are the heart of what binds Ireland and America. They speak to a history defined by our dreams, a present written by our shared responsibilities, and a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities.
"Today, I'd like to reflect on the enduring strength of the connections between Ireland and the United States, a partnership for the ages." As Biden finished his speech, members of the lower house, or TDs, and senators rose to their feet for a standing ovation. Other special guests included Marie Heaney, widow of one of Biden's favourite poets Seamus Heaney.
The poet, who would have turned 84 on Thursday, was likely to be "looking down on us with his glasses nestled between his fingers and a hint of a smile on his face," speaker of the lower house or Dail, Sean Ó Fearghaíl, said as he addressed those gathered before Biden spoke.
Biden then used the often-quoted "hope and history rhyme" line from Heaney's "The Cure At Troy."
Source: Qatar Tribune