We can't wait for your visit, Joe

Biclen uses a cupla focal tells of pride in rat roots

- LOUISE BURNE Political Correspondent

US President Joe Biden said yesterday he is looking forward to celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in Ireland next month.

When asked when he was coming, Mr Biden said: "Soon".

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who met the President in the Oval Office in the White House, told him large crowds will turn out when he arrives.

During the Speaker's Lunch on Capitol Hill, the president spoke a "cupla focal" as he reminisced about his last trip to Ireland and even asked Mr Varadkar for help with an Irish phrase.

Mr Biden continued: "I stand here today as a descendant of the Blewitts of Co Mayo and the Finnegans of Co Louth.

"I was telling the Taoiseach I would have, as vice president, always had a breakfast with the Taoiseach before he would go over to see the President.

"The seventh year, I think it was, the Taoiseach [Enda Kenny] went into the Oval, sat down and before Barack [Obama] could and said 'For God's sake, Barack, let the boy come home. Let him come home'.

"I swear to God, true story. 'You keep sending him to places like Afghanistan, Iraq, let him come home".