US President Joe Biden has met locals in Dundalk after he was cheered and welcomed with waving flags as he arrived in the Co Louth town.
Shouts of "Welcome home Joe" could be heard as the President took selfies with those who had waited in the pouring rain to see him.
Mr Biden made his way up Clanbrassil Street and spent around ten minutes greeting an excited crowd who screamed as he emerged from 'The Beast' presidential car.
Members of the public in ponchos and raincoats had been waiting to greet the US president with a sign reading "Dundalk welcomes President Biden" hung above Clanbrassil Street.
Mr Biden went into McAteers The Food House restaurant on the same street shortly before 7.15pm, where he chatted with staff.
Former Irish rugby player Rob Kearney was among those accompanying Mr Biden as he stopped off in the town.
US President Joe Biden has arrived in Dundalk where he is meeting local people on Clanbrassil Street | Follow live updates: https://t.co/ohtkHPJo2I pic.twitter.com/9NndaO8NlO
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) April 12, 2023
After meeting locals, Mr Biden went to The Windsor Bar on Dublin Street where Irish relatives and invited guests were gathered.
Those in attendance included Mr Biden's fourth cousin John-Owen Finnegan and fifth cousin Andrea McEvitt, who are both from Co Louth.
Other invited guests included local TDs Ged Nash of Labour, Ruairí Ó Murchú from Sinn Féin and Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick. Crowds also lined the street outside the bar.
Mr Martin gave a short address before Mr Biden spoke, where he said "welcome home to Co Louth."
Mr Biden said being in Co Louth "feels like home".
The US President began his speech, by speaking about Mr Martin's trip to Washington last year as Taoiseach, only to get Covid before their meeting in the White House.
Mr Biden said his mother, who could trace her roots back to the "wee county", "would be so damn proud" and that Louth held "a special place in her heart".
He reflected on his tour of Carlingford castle, he said the castle "was likely one of the last glimpses the Finnegan family had when they set sail for America."
"Irish are the only people in the world, in my view, who are nostalgic about the future," Mr Biden said.
He said hope beats in the heart of all people "but particularly in the Irish."
Mr Biden added: "My message to you today is quite simple is to keep the faith".
Ending his speech, Mr Biden said "thank you for the welcome, the bad news is we'll be back."
"Welcome home, Mr President"
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) April 12, 2023
Tánaiste @MichealMartinTD thanks US President @JoeBiden for his ongoing support of Ireland, adding that all communities must enjoy the benefits of peace following the Good Friday Agreement | Live updates: https://t.co/O1zX67gS0h pic.twitter.com/L2rGahGfTh
The trip to Dundalk follows a visit to Carlingford where Mr Biden toured the castle there along with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.
The castle offers a view of Carlingford Lough where Mr Biden's great-great grandfather Owen Finnegan left via Newry port during the Irish famine in 1849 for a new life in the United States.
As Mr Biden walked around the castle amid the rain, someone shouted up to ask him what he thought of the weather, to which the president quipped: "It's fine, it's Ireland."
The US President arrived in Co Louth after travelling from Dublin where he landed just after 3pm. He was greeted at Dublin Airport by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and a selection of other delegates.
This is Mr Biden's third trip to Co Louth, following previous visits in 2016 and 2017.
Mr Biden is the second US President to visit the Louth town, following on from Bill Clinton's visit 23 years ago.
Before departing the US, President Biden said that the main objective of his visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland was keeping the peace.
His remark echoes those made by Bill Clinton during a speech he gave in Dundalk in 2000, during which he said that "as extraordinary as Ireland's efforts are in exporting peace and peacekeepers to troubled areas all around the world, I can tell you that nothing will compare to the gift Ireland gives the world if you make peace here permanent".
The US President gave a keynote address at Ulster University in Belfast this morning, where he praised the work of the UK and European Union to strike the Windsor Framework on post-Brexit trading arrangements.
His visit to Northern Ireland took place on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that created Stormont’s power-sharing institutions.
Security was extremely tight in Dundalk and Carlingford ahead of the visit.
In recent weeks, US secret service members and blacked out vehicles have been spotted at various locations around the county.
Live updates: Biden in Ireland
In pictures: US President in Northern Ireland
Call for Stormont return to bring economic boost
Biden shares 'key to success' during airport greeting
Additional reporting Laura Hogan
