US President Joe Biden’s Irish cousins say they are looking forward to a “bit of craic” when he visits next week. 

President Biden is a proud Irish American and when he was elected President he told a rally of supporters that “Ireland will be written on my soul.”

His ancestors left Mayo and Louth in the 19th century and he visited both counties as Vice President in 2016. 

His fifth cousins in Louth, Barra Mulligan and Lisa McKevitt, said they are looking forward to welcoming him once again.  

“We always knew that there were connections in America but we knew that it was Joe Biden until whenever he got elected [as Vice President],” Mr Mulligan told Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie. 

“That’s when everyone started to have a party about it.” 

Mr Mulligan says “hopefully” there will be some music and dancing and Ms McKevitt is looking forward to her children experiencing their first presidential visit. 

“It’s a bit of excitement,” Lisa said.

“Especially for the younger kids and the younger cousins. 

“It adds a bit of excitement and a bit of craic.” 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on St Patrick's Day. Picture by: Marty Katz

Mr Mulligan is also hoping he’ll be able to discuss business matters with his famous relative. 

“I’d love to tell him about my wee Facebook page ‘Low Energy Services’ making turbines,” he said.

The Presidential schedule  

President Biden will begin his trip in Northern Ireland on April 11th where it is expected he will meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. 

A visit to open Ulster University’s new campus has been confirmed and a visit to the Northern Ireland Assembly is considered likely. 

Afterwards he will travel south where he will visit County Louth and address a joint sitting of the Oireachtas in Leinster House. 

He will also travel west to County Mayo where he will “deliver an address to celebrate the deep, historic ties that link our countries and people”.

The President will fly back to Washington on April 14th.

Main image: Joe Biden in Ireland. Picture by: Alamy.com