President Joe Biden’s visit to begin in Belfast on 11 April

November 5, 2024

24 2 minutes read

President Joe Biden’s visit to begin in Belfast on 11 April

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US President Joe Biden is set to arrive in Belfast on 11 April

EVELYN HOCKSTEIN President Biden — US President Joe Biden is set to arrive in Belfast on 11 April

US President Joe Biden will begin a five-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in Belfast on 11 April, it is understood.

During the visit Mr Biden is expected to meet Irish President Michael D Higgins.

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar, is also set to host a reception at Farmleigh House in Dublin.

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in March, Mr Biden said he intended to visit both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as part of the Good Friday Agreement 25th anniversary commemorations.

President Biden told reporters “they can’t keep me out”

Getty Images Joe Biden with reporters — President Biden told reporters “they can’t keep me out”

During his time in Ireland, Mr Biden is also expected to visit counties Louth and Mayo, where his ancestors hail from.

What is the Good Friday Agreement?

The prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, and then taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern sign the Good Friday Agreement

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern sign the Good Friday Agreement — The prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, and then taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern sign the Good Friday Agreement

Also known as the Belfast Agreement, it was a political deal designed to bring an end to 30 years of violent conflict known as the Troubles.

Signed on 10 April 1998 and approved by public votes in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it is based on the idea of co-operation between communities.

It helped to set up a new government for Northern Ireland, representing both nationalists and unionists.

The 25th anniversary of the deal will fall on 10 April 2023, which will be Easter Monday.

What are NI’s plans for the 25th anniversary?

More details of Mr Biden’s visit are expected in the coming days.

Former US President Bill Clinton, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are among those expected to visit Northern Ireland for commemorative events.

Large, silent video portraits of the 14 politicians who negotiated the peace deal will be displayed at UU’s Belfast campus from 15 to 20 April.

The university is also launching a new leadership programme, a tourism summit and an education project based on journalist Lyra McKee’s legacy.

She was shot dead by the New IRA while observing rioting in Londonderry in 2019.

Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement, scrutinising the deal’s wording and hearing from some of the people who helped get it across the line.

Click here to listen on BBC Sounds.