'Mayo for Sam', Joe Biden speech in Ballina as Ireland visit ends

Joe Biden has now arrived on stage, waving to the crowd, as he is set to begin his speech:

Hello, Mary, I see the light, hello Mayo. It's great to be here with you all. It's great to be here on Ballina's 30th anniversary.

“Hello Mayo, it’s great to be hearing you all, it’s great to be back here in Ballina”.

Mr Biden said the town is home to Ireland’s first female president (Mary Robinson), one of your youngest mayors, and maybe to Ireland’s first female astronaut – Norah Patten.

"We went to Knock Shrine, where I met Fr. Gibbons. We also met Fr O'Grady who gave my son his last rites, it was like a sign.

"I want to thank you, I heard you all had an improper celebration the day I was elected. You were all there singing the Green and Red of Mayo. It meant the world to me to be known the son of Ballina.

"Oh the green and red of Mayo, of the green of Mayo, oh the green and red of Mayo.

"It feels like coming home. It's here where my great, great, great-grandfather, stood here and dreamt of becoming a seaman.

"He settled in my home town of Scranton. I invited the mayor of Scranton to come here with me, she is here tonight.

"To this day I can remember my dad saying at the dinner table, everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. Nobody is above you and you are lower than nobody.

"It was on Celtic street where I earned the true expression of 100 thousand welcomes. During the trip I had the honour of turning the sod at Roscommon hospice.

"Beau passed away in 2015, a decorated war hero, so I can tell you his special it is that a piece iof his legacy lives here with his ancestors.

"The beginning, middle and end, that's the Irish of it. Hope is what beats with the hearts of all our people. One of greater dignity, and greater possibilities.

"Today the United States continues to honour that legacy, espically those of a Ireland born Marine, Patrick Gallagher.

"When an enemy threw a grenade on his team, Patrick threw himself on that grenade, to protect his brother in arms.

"I always say us Irish are the only one nostalgic about the future. As you know all too well, this isn't just there story of our past, but the future as well.

"We are facing enormous challenges across the world, too big to solve on our own. We are facing problems of food across the world.

"We must tackle the climate crisis. Ireland's green shade, includes Ireland's green energy, and green jobs.

"What do the Irish fight for? For freedom and democracy, that is what we are fighting for. I want to thank those who have opened up their hearts and homes to the Ukrainian people.

"I've never been more optimistic about what we can achieve if we stick to our values. Nothing is beyond our reach. May God protect the cause of peace.

"One more thing, Mayo for Sam!."

US president Joe Biden completed his four-day visit of Ireland as he visited his family roots in Ballina in Co. Mayo.

Thousands of people gathered in the town to watch his speech, with music earlier in the evening from The Coronas, The Acedamic, and the Chieftans, who are performing for the final time.

Earlier today, Mr Biden visited Knock Shrine, where he met the priest who gave his late son Beau his final rites.

Mr Biden also visited the Mayo Roscommon Hospice, where he was shown a plaque to his late son.

Before Mr Biden makes his highly anticipated speech, former Ireland President Mary Robinson, who is from Ballina, read out a poem from Evan Boland, called the Emigrant Irish.

“The poem was important, because Eavan felt we should be caring more for those who had to leave the country and find their way and struggle, and love their country from afar, but not feel that they were cherished and loved, as I’m glad to say they are now,” she said.

At around 9.10pm there was a flurry of excitement among the waiting crowd in Ballina as helicopters were spotted in the sky above the cathedral.

As a helicopter flew over the River Moy cheers went up from those gathered, with one of The Chieftains shouting “there he is” to the delight of the expectant crowd.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was speaking in front of the crowd.

He said: "President Biden, Ambassador Cronin, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

"Mr President, welcome back to Mayo, fáilte ar ais chuig Contae Maigh Eo, Contae iontach, Contae spescialta, a county very close to my heart as well as to your own and thank you for choosing to make this such a big part of your visit.

"The story of Ireland can be told through our poetry and music, but it is most eloquently expressed through our people.

"It is a story of longing – for a better life, a better society, and a better world.  A story of unimaginable courage in the face of loss.

"And, above all, it is a story of love – for country, for family, and for community.

"It is your story, Mr President, as well as our own.

"Thank you, for your lifelong commitment to peace on our island, your friendship, for the leadership you have shown protecting all that has been achieved, and for everything you are doing to help build a better future here, in America and in our world.

"In this place, history and hope are never too far apart.

"Twenty-five years ago, when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, to use the words of Maya Angelou, my favourite American poet - ‘we released our fingers from fists of hostility, and allowed the pure air to cool our palms’. ‘History’, she reminds us, ‘despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again’. By facing our past together, our island learned ‘a brave and startling truth’: nothing is ever truly impossible.

"In the darkest days of our country’s history, the Blewitts and the Finnegans, and countless other families, left these shores to for a better life in a new world.

"Mayo has changed considerably – Ireland has changed considerably - since Edward Blewit fled these shores during the worst days of the famine.

"We were a country in despair, starved of food and opportunity, and starved for even longer of basic freedoms and rights.  A country being denuded of its people.   A country that was not in charge of its own affairs.

"Today, as you have witnessed, Mayo is linked to the world by fibre optics and its international airport, and it is connected to communities across the globe through its people.

"Mayo is home to American companies who provide good jobs for so many and a new technological university which provides the greatest passport of all – an education.

"Here outside St. Muredach’s Cathedral we must rededicate ourselves to playing our part in the fight between darkness and light, despair and hope, injustice and dignity.

"We pray for the wisdom to guide us, the words to speak up for those without a voice, the shield to protect our planet, and the strength to do what is right.

"Mr President, your life story reminds us that although tragedy may shape us, it never solely defines us.  Love of country, of family, and of each other moves us forward, providing new hope and inspiring others along the way.

"President Biden, you are the most Irish of all American presidents, not because of what is written on your family tree, but because of what is enshrined in your soul.

"We did not need to gather here today in our thousands to say: ‘Welcome back to Ireland’.  In your heart, you never left."