Hurley smokes,Joe!

Links with US celebrated with Varadkar | Pres rings peace bell for 'my ancestors' | Sliotar just misses Biden's head at game

- FERGHAL BLANEY

JOE Biden got so close to the action at a camogie game yesterday he was almost struck on the head by a sliotar.

The US President was watching youngsters from Dublin clubs displaying their skills on the grounds of Farmleigh House with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

The exhibition games of camogie and football featured girls and boys from Dublin GAA clubs, St Brigid's, Castleknock and St Oliver Plunkett's Eoghan Ruadh.

Both leaders were talking on the sideline, a sliotar from one of the Brigid's girls whizzed past Mr Biden's ear.

The President broke into a trot as he turned around to go after the puck which had gone into the trees behind him.

But the quick-footed player who was in goals was faster than the 80-yearold President and got there well before him. St Brigid's GASA club later tweeted about the incident, stating: "More practice on shooting for points noted. But we will give the U12 girls a break for a few days after their demonstration this afternoon.

President Biden and Mr Varadkar had come out to the Farmleigh House gardens to watch the kids play after a formal bilateral inside the old Guinness family home.

They talked about the close bonds that link Ireland and the US as well as the war in Ukraine and Ireland's efforts in supporting refugees fleeing the war zone.

Climate change, foreign investment and the North's peace process were also on the agenda.

President Biden said: "It feels so good to be able to have this emerging and stronger and stronger relationship between the United States and Ireland.