JOE BIDEN’S Irish cousins and relatives were out in force at his ancestral home of Ballymena in Co Mayo to celebrate the 77-year-old becoming the 46th President of the United States.
The President-elect's cousin, Joe Blewitt, led the celebrations alongside his wife Deirdre with the pair pictured popping a bottle of champagne underneath the mural of Biden that stands in the centre of the town.
They were joined by dozens of Biden’s Irish relatives and well-wishers as part of a government approved socially distanced street party held to mark the occasion.
Everyone in attendance took extra care to ensure they celebrated within the strict Covid-19 guidelines in place across Ireland. The restrictions did little to dampen the mood in Ballymena though, where Biden has garnered strong support from relatives and locals alike.
Joe Blewitt a cousin of Joe Biden sprays a bottle of champagne along with family members underneath a mural of Presidential candidate Joe Biden as locals celebrate Biden being elected as the next US President in Ballina, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)Biden whose distant relatives hail from the County Mayo town of Ballina has visited the town twice before as the former Vice President
With their backing Biden went on to secure the highest vote in American history.
Blewitt told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “Everyone is very excited here at the moment
“Everyone’s very excited... and you can see from the crowd that’s here there is a great buzz around.
“So, finally, Joe Biden will be the US President.”
Joe Blewitt and his wife Deirdre drink champagne underneath a mural of their third cousin Joe Biden as locals celebrate Joe Biden being elected as the next US President in Ballina, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)Blewitt previously met Biden during a special trip to the White House in 2017, when his Irish-American cousin was serving as vice-president to Barack Obama.
And while Biden has his hands full for the foreseeable future, his Irish relatives expect to see him over in Ballymena as soon as possible.
“We will definitely see Mr Biden here in the town soon,” Blewitt told the Irish Sunday Mirror.
Paddy Macs bar owner Michael Carr stands outside his pub with an American flag as locals celebrate Joe Biden being elected as the next US President in Ballina, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)Blewitt isn’t the only one eager to see the President-elect back in his ancestral homeland either, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin also extending an invite on Twitter.
"Joe Biden has been a true friend of this nation throughout his life and I look forward to working with him in the years ahead,” he said.
“I also look forward to welcoming him back home when the circumstances allow!"
