President Biden to visit ancestral homeland infographic
Graphic shows President Biden’s agenda, and details of security arrangements.
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IRELAND

President Biden to visit ancestral homeland

By Phil Bainbridge

April 11, 2023 - April 15, 2023 - U.S. President Joe Biden will visit the island of Ireland, from where his forebears hailed, amid a €5m security operation.

Over 1,000 personnel will be involved, including 250 U.S. Secret Service, 400-500 An Garda Siochána - 200 of them armed - and Irish Defence Forces. A U.S. aircraft carrier, as yet unnamed, will be off the west coast of Ireland and following the route of the President, while around U.S. personnel in the UK will also be on standby.

The President will fly into Belfast on Air Force One to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, before proceeding to Dublin on April 12th where he will make an official State visit to the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins’ residence, and hold a meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park.

Biden will also visit Co Louth and Co Mayo, from which his great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt and wife May emigrated over 160 years ago, where he is expected to make a “homecoming” speech.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 05/04/2023; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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