…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
On the last full day of his trip to Ireland, President Joe Biden will visit several sites of religious and ancestral significance.
Biden has already explored his Finnegan family connections on the eastern side of the island in County Louth and will now visit County Mayo, where he has family connections in the Blewitt branch of his family tree.
One of the stops on his itinerary will be the Knock Shrine, an Irish pilgrimage site that has been visited by two popes and Mother Teresa.
It is believed that a heavenly apparition of Mary, mother of Jesus, appeared there in 1879. As a practicing Catholic, Biden is expected to engage in private prayer at the shrine.
Later in the day, Biden will visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre, where his Blewitt relatives are from.
He plans to deliver an evening address outside Saint Muredach’s Cathedral in County Mayo, which has a picturesque backdrop of the River Moy.
This cathedral is in the town of Ballina, where Biden’s great-great-great Grandfather Edward Blewitt lived during the Great Famine.
Before his speech, Biden will make a private visit to Mayo Hospice, a center with a plaque bearing the name of his late son, Beau, who he referenced during his speech to the Irish general assembly on Thursday.
In 2017, Biden “turned the sod” there during a groundbreaking.
Analysis
Biden’s visit to Ireland has been highly personal, with a focus on his family connections and ancestry.
This final day of his trip is no exception, as he visits sites of religious significance and follows the trail of his ancestors. As a practicing Catholic, his visit to the Knock Shrine is particularly meaningful.
It is also significant that he will speak outside Saint Muredach’s Cathedral, where his ancestors once worshipped.
This visit underscores the importance of Biden’s Irish heritage and his connection to the country.