Why Ireland Is So Important to President Biden | WSJ

- If you'll forgive the Irishman's poor attempt, (speaks Gaelic) I'm home. (Audience applauds)-President Biden clearly takes pride in his Irish heritage. - Since I can remember it has been, in a way, part of my soul. - He likes to include old Irish sayings in the conversation. - If you are lucky enough to be Irish, then you are lucky. -And when a Mongolian horse was presented to him, he called the animal Celtic. Now, Biden has visited his ancestral home for the first time as

president

in what was both an

important

personal pilgrimage and a demonstration of American soft power abroad.

The visit of the second Catholic

president

to Ireland came 60 years after the first, John F. Kennedy. - I want to say that I am happy to be here tonight. - And continued a long tradition of American leaders honoring the Emerald Isle. - I want you to know that for this great-grandson from Ireland this is a moment of joy. - Many American presidents have described their days visiting Belfast or Dublin as some of the best days of their presidency. Bill Clinton visited three times. George W. Bush visited him twice. Barack Obama visited once. And now Biden, who claims to have a lot of Irish ancestry. -During his trip, Biden visited his mother's family's hometown, met with the Irish president and addressed parliament in Dublin. - America was shaped by Ireland and that is not hyperbole. -The influence of Biden's Irish roots has long been seen in his political rhetoric.

His speeches, for example, often make references to Irish poetry. - You know, as the great Irish poet Seamus Heaney once wrote: "History says: Don't wait this side of the grave, but then, once in a lifetime, the long-awaited tidal wave of justice rises, and hope and historical rhyme" It's all I've been taught. -I think for President Biden, the experience of being Irish and the historical experience of Irish people living under British rule is a way that he uses to connect with oppressed minorities in other parts of the world. That's why he's made it a real part of his political worldview. - My background and that of my family are Irish American and we have a long history of not fundamentally differentiating ourselves from the Palestinian people with Britain and its attitude towards Irish Catholics over the years. - Biden's Irish connection has helped strengthen the already strong ties between the United States and Ireland. - I think it is fair to say that today we celebrate our national day with a president who is without a doubt a son of Ireland. (Audience applauding) - Being a son of Ireland has also gotten him out of one or two verbal gaps in the past. - He knows a lot about that.

His mother lived on Long Island for about 10 years. May God preserve her soul. And even though she, wait, your mom is still, your mom is still alive, your dad passed away. God bless her soul. (Audience laughs) There is an old Irish proverb, as some of you know, that I heard my grandfather use but that he had never applied to me before. He said, "Sweet to hear a silent mouth." (Audience laughs) Well, I'm going to give in to that proverb. (Audience laughs) - I think Irish people in general are very pro-American. I mean, the connections are obviously huge because a lot of their sons and daughters left and a lot of them went to America and made something for themselves.

So I think it's good that some of these people are coming back and creating new links between Ireland and the United States. - This is especially

important

now, 25 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The historic peace agreement between republicans and unionists in Northern Ireland was negotiated with help from the United States. - I think for the United States, in some ways it brings a reminder of the times in the world when American hard power and soft power can make a difference forever. - The President had the opportunity during his visit to promote its preservation amid the political instability in the region. - As a friend, I hope it is not too presumptuous of me to say that I believe that the democratic institutions established by the Good Friday Agreement remain fundamental to the future of Northern Ireland. - The Good Friday Agreement is an unquestionable victory for peace and the United States was a big part of it.

So I think Biden is rightly going to celebrate that. - Your story is our story. But even more important is that their future is the future of America. (jumping music)