Thousands of people lined the streets of Ballina, Co Mayo last night to watch the 46th President of the United States Joe Biden deliver a rousing speech in the hometown of his ancestors, but many more RTE viewers were distracted by one detail of the event.
The crowds in Mayo were made to wait hours before the President emerged through the flashing green lights to the first bars of the Dropkick Murphy's famous tune, I'm Shipping Up To Boston.
The raucous tune has been used by many a fighter to enter the ring over the years and the sight of Joe Biden walking, arms raised, down a slight ramp to the stage in front of St Muredach's Cathedral reminded some viewers of the WWE.
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The 80-year-old even managed a slight jog on his way to the podium where he delivered a moving speech to more than 25,000 people, evening chanting 'Mayo for Sam' at the end.
One former Dublin footballer Paddy Andrews took to Twitter to share his hilarious observation of the pumped-up entrance.
He wrote: "Biden entering the stage to Dropkick Murphys' like he’s about to win the Royal Rumble is without doubt the highlight of this entire week."
Others were quick to share in the joke, with one joking, "Literally the exact feeling I had that he was entering like a WWE superstar, and another saying, "At his age, to win it, he'd have to go in at number 30 surely."
A third added: "And then drops Mayo for Sam. Channelling his inner Vince McMahon."
A fourth tweet read: "Never thought I’d read a tweet that involved Paddy Andrews, Joe Biden, Dropkick Murphy’s and the Royal Rumble in it. One for the books."
In his speech, the President said of Mayo: “The truth of it is, being here feels like coming home.
“Stories of this place have become part of my soul.”
President Biden said that it was his “dream to bring his family to Ireland” and he got to do that in 2017.
He noted he turned a sod at the Mayo Roscommon Hospice, in memory of his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
There is a plaque in the hospice dedicated to Beau. President Biden said: “I can’t tell you how special it is that a piece of his legacy lives here among his ancestors.”
At the end of his speech, he paused and said: "One more thing, Mayo for Sam, Mayo for Sam," before departing to a rapturous reception.
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