'I’ve never been more optimistic': Biden's farewell speech in County Mayo

Mary, I see the light around the post, it's great to hear from you all and it's great to be back in Balti

more

for your 300th anniversary. This city is home to Wireless's first female president, one of its youngest

mayo

rs and perhaps Ireland's first female astronaut. Nora Patton I'm serious, I had to be here, my son Hunter and my sister Valerie and I made several stops in the

mayo

r today we visited the Knock Shrine where I was welcomed by Father Richard Gibbons. We also met out of nowhere, we didn't know. There was a former military chaplain, Father O'Grady, who gave my son last rights and the Walter Reed Medical Hospital in Washington?

It was incredible to see, it seemed like a sign. Today I was able to hold one in my hand. They are very heavy. They are heavy while working. I'm sure Edward imagined that one day his family would worship here, that his children would be baptized here as his son Patrick was, and that future generations of his family would mark the milestones of their lives here on its sturdy walls, but I doubt that any You may have imagined that your great-great-grandson would return 200 years later as president of the United States of America. It's not that surprising and I want to thank you.

I want to thank you. I heard everyone had an impromptu visit. celebration the night they declared me the winner in the 2020 elections, you adorned the weather, a city that they tell me and I read in white and blue with cars and crowds gathered in the Market Square singing the green and red of the mail, well, you I say what it means the world to me it meant the world to me and my whole family to be hugged like Mayo Joe son of balana the truth is what it's like to be here it feels, I know you'll say it feels like coming home, it really does over the years, stories of this. place has become part of my soul part of my family's tradition it was here where I imagine my great-great-grandfather took shade under its trees after long days the brick factory was here I imagined his children climbing the limestone cliffs and they played in the muddy swamps and fished in the Moore River, it was here that I imagined one of those children, my great-great-grandfather Patrick was on the shores of Clue Bay and dreamed of being a sailor.

You know, I have often said that we Irish are the only ones who actually feel nostalgic for the future, we always believe in a better tomorrow, it is because no matter what we have always carried hope in our hearts, it is hope that paved the way through the darkness, illuminated it for us, our strength has helped us overcome everyday difficulties and above all, our courage has allowed us to move forward with faith even in the face of pain and setbacks, as you know very well, this is not not only a story of our past, but also of our present and our future.

Earlier this week marked 25 years as the signing of the Good Friday agreement 25 years of Peace of progress and peace and progress not only for the people of Northern Ireland but for people across the island is a reminder of the importance of peace and what can be achieved when we work together in common Because ladies and gentlemen, our world today is at a turning point because the decisions we make today will affect our future for decades to come and it is right now, but We need hope and courage

more

than ever, we face enormous challenges around the world that are too great for any one country to solve alone, my friends, people of May, this is a time to re-engage our hearts, our minds, our art and our souls with the march of progress to lay the foundation Rich by brick for a better future. for our children and our grandchildren an opportunity and dignity of Great Freedom just as our ancestors did for us.

I have

never

been

more

optimistic

and I have

been

doing this for a long time. I have

never

been more

optimistic

about what we can achieve if we stay united and stick to our values ​​this is a time of enormous possibilities united by history heritage and hope and perhaps most of all by courage nothing is out of reach every time I was leaving my Grandpa Finnegan's house in Scranton Pennsylvania I was yelling Joey keep the faith then I heard someone in the house yell no Joey spread the word God protect all those who serve the cause of peace and oh one thing more, mail to Sam and to Sam.