Northern Ireland

Joe Biden's ancestral home celebrates his victory in the US election

Pub owner Michael Carr waits for celebrations to begin in Ballina, Ireland on Saturday. Picture by AP Photo/Peter Morrison
Pub owner Michael Carr waits for celebrations to begin in Ballina, Ireland on Saturday. Picture by AP Photo/Peter Morrison Pub owner Michael Carr waits for celebrations to begin in Ballina, Ireland on Saturday. Picture by AP Photo/Peter Morrison

THE town of Ballina in Co Mayo, one of Joe Biden's ancestral homes, was decked out in the famous stars and stripes in anticipation of his success.

Mr Biden's great-great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt emigrated from the town almost 200 years ago, having worked as a brick-maker and as a civil engineer helping to map Ireland.

Ten of his 16 great-great grandparents were also born in Ireland.

Ballina local Joe Blewitt, a distant cousin of Mr Biden, was in no doubt that he would prevail as the election count continued for four days.

He told the PA news agency he was always confident of Biden's success despite the long wait for confirmation.

Read More

  • Nigel Farage taken to task by Mark Durkan for claiming Joe Biden hates the UK
  • Tom Kelly: Although I detest what Trump stands for, he is mesmerising (Premium)

"Joe Biden is talking about policies, he's meeting with all the health officials and he's setting up a plan. The other man is still talking about himself. That was always the case with him. It wasn't about the people, it was about himself."

Mr Blewitt, a heating and plumbing contractor, was invited to the White House in 2017, when Mr Biden was awarded the congressional medal of honour from then president Barack Obama.

He is hoping he will be able to make it over again for the inauguration next year and the pair are in regular contact.

"They're sound, they're good people and he's a really nice fella. He's good to talk to."

The festival atmosphere in Ballina on Saturday was a mark of how much Mr Biden's victory means to the town.

"He was here when he was Vice President and the hype when he was here the last time was unbelievable. They're so proud of him," Mr Blewitt said.

"Now he'll be the President of the United States, they're delighted, they're absolutely delighted. To think one of their own is one of the most powerful men in the world."

Businesses all over the town, many of them closed due to lockdown restrictions, were all decked out in posters and American flags, while locals sipped champagne in celebration.

It was especially sweet for Beryl McCrainey Slevin, a California native who has lived in Ballina for over 15 years.

Her hope is that Mr Biden will be able to reunite her homeland after a divisive four years under Mr Trump.

"Hopefully it will bring about the necessary changes in terms of systemic racial problems that we're having and have had historically in America.

"I also feel very strongly that Joe Biden is in a place now that he's ready to do serious justice reform, police reform nationally."

She met Mr Biden when he visited Ballina and said "the town just went bananas".

"It was just so exciting to have him here. Everybody was out, the children were out, school kids were out to greet the plane over at Knock."

Joe Blewitt is not ruling out the possibility of a Joe Biden plaza - similar to the one built in Moneygall to honour Barack Obama when he visited his ancestral home.

A mural of Mr Biden, which overlooks the main square in the old market town, was recently created by local artists Smiler Mitchell and Leslie Lackey.

After the unveiling, Mr Biden pledged to revisit the town if he wins the election.