US President Joe Biden has confirmed he will visit Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been in the United States to confirm the final details of a joint British-US-Australian project to build a new generation of nuclear submarines.
While in California, Mr Sunak formally asked President Biden to visit Northern Ireland to celebrate the anniversary of the 1998 agreement.
“Twenty-five years - it seems like yesterday,” President Biden replied.
“Thank you - it is my intention to go to Northern Ireland and the Republic.”
Joe Biden's cousins Joe Blewitt with daughters Emily (left) and Lauren (right) pose beside his mural in Ballina, Co Mayo. President Biden's great-great grandfather, Patrick Blewitt, was born in Ballina in 1832 and left for the US in 1850. Picture by: Peter Morrison/AP/Press Association ImagesPresident Biden is a proud Irish American who is fond of quoting Irish poets and has even been known to speak a cúpla focail from time to time.
As Vice President in 2016 he undertook an extensive tour of Ireland - including his ancestral counties of Mayo and Louth.
As I Remember It
As the 25th Anniversary of the accord approaches, Newstalk’s latest podcast As I Remember It: Bertie Ahern & The Good Friday Agreement looks back at the peace talks through the eyes of the people that were in the room.
The series features exclusive interviews with the likes of Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Senator George J. Mitchell in conversation with Bertie Ahern.
For bonus content including interviews, videos, an interactive timeline of the peace process and a full glossary of the key players head to newstalk.com/goodfridayagreement.
You can hear Episode One here:
Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts
Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.
Main image: United States President Joe Biden. Credit: Oliver Contreras / Pool via CNP | usage worldwide
