JOE'S TOY STORY..

BIDEN IN IRELAND: CROWD BRAVES RAIN FOR BIG WELCOME | US President greeted by Taoiseach at Dublin Airport | Youngster has Air Force One replica to show leader

- LOUISE BURNE

US President Joe Biden shimmied down the stairs of Air Force One to greet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in a wet Dublin Airport yesterday afternoon.

And it was not only the Taoiseach who gave Biden a warm welcome.

Children of Irish Embassy staff quizzed the President on his dogs and even showed him a toy replica of the Air Force One plane he had arrived on.

Biden's transport arrived at Dublin Airport shortly before 3.15pm after bringing the President and his delegation - including his sister Valerie Biden Owen and son Hunter – from Belfast. The weather did not dampen Biden’s spirits as he bounced down the stairs to meet the Taoiseach, who he had entertained in Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day last month.

Although he had an umbrella in his hand, it was not until Varadkar placed his own brolly over Biden that he was sheltered from the lashing rain.

Despite the cold weather, there was a warm conversation between Biden and the Taoiseach, which some commented lasted longer than his meeting with UK leader Rishi Sunak on Tuesday evening at Belfast Airport.