Irish ayes: Residents celebrate in Joe Biden’s ancestral hometown
The party celebrating Joe Biden’s victory extended all the way to his ancestral hometown in Ireland.
Residents of Ballina — the birthplace of Biden’s great-great-great grandfather —gathered in the town square and popped champagne even before the race was called Saturday, according to footage from Irish broadcaster RTE News.
The streets of the town in County Mayo had been decorated with American flags and Biden-Harris banners for days as the residents awaited the results.
Joe Blewitt, a heating and plumbing engineer and a cousin of Biden’s, said the town was ecstatic.
“Now he’ll be the president of the United States, they’re delighted, they’re absolutely delighted,” Blewitt said. “To think one of their own is one of the most powerful men in the world.”
This is the second claim-to-fame for Ballina. It is also the birthplace of Mary Robinson, the first female president of Ireland.
No doubt they will be watching tonight when Biden makes his victory speech, albeit at 1 a.m. local time.
With Post wires