…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
US President Joe Biden was left momentarily upstaged by a Bernese dog named Misneach, which means “courage” in Irish, during his visit to Ireland.
President Biden was walking with Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Coyne through the grounds of the Irish president’s residence in Dublin when Misneach started barking at Biden.
Higgins paused his conversation with Biden to pet the dog before shooing it away, while the US president appeared uninterested and put on his sunglasses, turning to speak with Coyne.
Misneach, the newest addition to the presidential family, has quickly become a media darling in Ireland.
The six-month-old puppy was gifted to Higgins as a birthday present from his wife in March.
Since then, Misneach has been a regular fixture at official presidential events, often stealing the spotlight with his playful antics.
The brief moment of levity provided by Misneach’s bark is a welcome respite from the seriousness of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the other pressing issues facing world leaders.
Biden’s trip to Ireland is part of his first overseas tour as president, during which he is seeking to strengthen ties with European allies and bolster global cooperation on a range of issues, including climate change and economic recovery.
The US president also met with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other world leaders at the G7 summit in Cornwall before heading to Brussels for a NATO meeting and a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva.