US President Joe Biden spoke a “cúpla focal” earlier on St Patrick’s Day as he reminisced about his last trip to Ireland.
Mr Biden is widely expected to visit Ireland for a trip next month.
Speaking at the Speaker’s Lunch on Capitol Hill, Mr Biden spoke about his own family in Ireland and even asked Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for help with a famous Irish phrase.
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“I stand here today as a descendant of the Blewitts of Co Mayo and the Finnegans of Co Louth,” Mr Biden said.
“I was telling the Taoiseach I would have, as Vice President, I’d always have a breakfast with the Taoiseach before he would go over to see the President.
“The seventh year, I think it was, the Taoiseach [Enda Kenny] went into the Oval, sat down and before Barrack [Obama] could and said ‘for God’s sake, Barrack, let the boy come home. Let him come home’.
“I swear to god, true story. ‘You keep sending him to places like Afghanistan, Iraq, let him come home.’
“You have to help me [Taoiseach] with the Gaelic expression, a hundred thousand welcomes.
“Céad mile fáilte.
“[Mr Kenny] said, ‘he’ll get 100,000 welcomes’. And it was one of the ones they didn't plan on me bringing my whole family.”
Mr Biden continued: “When I went over to Ireland, it was a great experience. I had been to Ireland many times but not to actually look up, to find my actual family members.
“There are so many and they actually weren't in jail they were all…
“But all kidding aside, I met the Blewits, the Finnegans and all of the folk who we are related to. Spent six days there.
“The Finnegans from County Louth and there is still if you go to County Louth, there's still a place called Finnegans Pub which is related to my family.
“I'm the only Irish man you’ve ever met who has never had a drink, so I'm okay.
“I’m clearly not Irish. But look, as many of you know, I take pride in my Irish ancestry.
“As long as I can remember, it's been sort of part of my soul, how I've been raised.
“During times of darkness and despair, it always brings light and strength when you think about what my ancestors went through, and what we're going through now and the history that binds us and the values that unite us.”
Earlier on Friday, Mr Varadkar said that he is looking forward to Mr Biden travelling to Ireland and that it will be a “visit like no other”.
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