TAKE FIVE, JOE

US PRESIDENT'S VISIT: 12 DAYS TO GO | Biden's homecoming will mark peace deal both sides of border

- LOUISE BURNE

US President Joe Biden will make a fiveday visit to Ireland starting on April 11, it was confirmed yesterday.

The "most Irish President since John F Kennedy” is timing his stay to coincide with events marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

And it’s understood his engagements on the first day will be in Belfast before he travels to Dublin on Tuesday.

The President is to depart Ireland on Saturday, April 15. It is widely expected he will visit his ancestral homes in Mayo and Louth though sources insisted there was nothing formally on the agenda.

And while it was thought Mr Biden could address the Dail and Seanad during his trip, TDs and Senators would be on their Easter break during the visit.

The Irish Mirror understands there are no plans at the moment” for such an address.

President Biden is expected to stay in the Conrad Hotel in Dublin during his visit to the capital.

He will fly into Belfast on April 11 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement before travelling to Dublin.

He is expected to fly to Dublin from Belfast. The US Secret Service looked at top hotels like the Shelbourne and the Merrion as a base for the president.