Joe Biden has recalled his 2023 visit to Ireland as an emotionally powerful trip that left him feeling he could be “elected president” there, according to extracts from his forthcoming memoir. The former US president’s reflections cover his family roots, his address in Ballina, a meeting at Knock Shrine and his views on Brexit and the late Queen Elizabeth II.
What Biden said about Ireland
In Promise Me, America, due to be published on November 17th, Biden describes his Ireland trip as a moment that “restored my soul and revived my spirit”. He wrote that he returned to the United States ready for what he called the fight of his political life.
His account places the visit in the context of the 2024 US presidential race. Biden said he left Ireland feeling he could be elected president there, before facing the question of whether he could win another term in the United States.
The visit took place in April 2023, when Biden travelled to the Republic of Ireland as part of a State visit that combined official engagements with a deeply personal exploration of his Irish heritage.
Ballina address remembered as a high point
Biden specifically recalled speaking outside St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina, Co Mayo, on April 14th, 2023. He described the crowd as numbering 27,000 people and remembered the reception as intensely enthusiastic.
The Mayo appearance was one of the most public moments of the trip. Biden’s family links to the county, along with his long-standing references to his Irish ancestry, gave the event significance beyond a standard diplomatic visit.
In his memoir, he characterises the journey as emotionally resonant. His comments are likely to renew interest in the way Ireland has featured in his public identity and presidential speeches.
- Biden visited Ireland in April 2023.
- He spoke at St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina on April 14th.
- His memoir, Promise Me, America, is scheduled for publication on November 17th.
- He later withdrew from the 2024 US presidential race and endorsed Kamala Harris.
A personal meeting at Knock Shrine
One of the most moving memories in the memoir concerns a meeting with Fr Frank O’Grady at Knock Shrine. O’Grady had served as a US Army chaplain at Walter Reed Medical Centre and had performed the last rites for Biden’s son Beau, who died from brain cancer in 2015.
Biden wrote that seeing the priest brought tears to his eyes. The encounter connected his Irish visit with one of the most painful experiences of his family life, adding a private dimension to a trip dominated by public ceremonies and political symbolism.
For readers following Ireland News and the latest Irish news, the recollection also highlights the continuing role of Knock as a place of religious and personal significance for visitors from Ireland and abroad.
Biden’s comments on Brexit and Northern Ireland
The former president also revisits his views on Brexit in the memoir. Looking back at the 2021 G7 summit in Cornwall, he says the UK’s departure from the European Union threatened to weaken the Good Friday Agreement, the 1998 accord that helped establish the political framework for peace in Northern Ireland.
Biden links his position to both his Irish American background and his concern about the stability of the peace process. He writes that he opposed what he saw as the nationalist rhetoric surrounding Brexit and criticised promises he believed could not be delivered.
He also recalls choosing to address his differences privately because then-British prime minister Boris Johnson was hosting the summit. The account offers insight into how the former president balanced his personal convictions with diplomatic protocol.
Queen Elizabeth II and Biden’s Irish identity
Another notable section concerns Biden’s relationship with Queen Elizabeth II. Despite his mother’s Irish American hostility towards the British crown, Biden says he admired the late monarch and developed a natural rapport with her.
He compares the queen’s strength and sense of humour with those of his mother, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan. The comparison reflects the complexity of Biden’s relationship with British history: shaped by Irish family memories, but not limited by them.
His reflections show how personal heritage, historical grievances and modern diplomacy often overlap in the public life of Irish American politicians.
Irish literature influenced Biden’s speeches
Biden has frequently referred to Irish writers and poets, including Seamus Heaney. In the memoir, he says James Joyce influenced the language of his 2020 inaugural address.
He recalls using words attributed to Joyce about Dublin being written on the heart, then adapting the sentiment to describe his connection with Delaware. The reference captures a recurring theme in Biden’s speeches: the idea that place, ancestry and memory can remain powerful long after a person has left home.
What happens next?
Promise Me, America is scheduled to be published on November 17th. Further extracts may provide additional detail about Biden’s presidency, his 2023 Ireland visit and his decision to leave the 2024 race.
Biden ended his campaign the following year after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump. He later supported Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic nominee but lost the election to Trump in 2024.
As the memoir reaches readers, the Ireland-related passages are expected to attract particular attention in Ireland, where Biden’s Mayo ancestry and public affection for Irish culture have been closely followed.
Frequently asked questions
When did Joe Biden visit Ireland?
Joe Biden visited Ireland in April 2023. He addressed a large crowd outside St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina, Co Mayo, on April 14th.
What did Biden say about leaving Ireland?
He wrote that he left Ireland feeling he could be elected president there, while returning to the United States to face the challenge of seeking another term.
What is Biden’s memoir called?
The memoir is titled Promise Me, America and is scheduled for publication on November 17th.
Why was Fr Frank O’Grady significant to Biden?
Fr O’Grady had performed the last rites for Biden’s son Beau at Walter Reed Medical Centre before the priest and Biden met at Knock Shrine during the 2023 visit.
Conclusion
Joe Biden’s account presents his 2023 Ireland visit as more than a diplomatic engagement. It was a return to family history, a meeting linked to personal loss and a public reminder of the cultural ties that shaped his political identity. For anyone following Breaking News Ireland, the memoir’s publication will offer a closer look at why the trip left such a lasting impression on the former president.
