Write a comment
The hardy souls who turned out in Carlingford today to see President Biden visit saw history in the making. The first visit to the village by a US President was made all the more special due to his connection to County Louth via his Great Great Grandfather, Owen Finnegan who left the county in 1849.
As many onlookers exclaimed 'It was a day for the fire' as they stood out in the elements frozen and truly soaked to the skin. Certiainly more like a Winters day than a Spring one the rain seemed to have stayed away until it returned with a vengence just before he arrived. Some had been there from before lunchtime but the wait was brought to an end at 5.52pm when the presidential cavalcade arrived to cheers from the waiting crowd. President Biden went straight to King John's Castle where he was told the history of the iconic landmark. On a better day he would have had a great view over Carlingford Lough but as it was, the dark clouds almost touched the sea, most likely mirroring the gloom and sense of loss his County Louth ancestors would have felt as they sailed down the Lough for the new world in 1849 and 1850. Speaking in the Windsor Bar on his visit to Dundalk later in the day President Biden said "Earlier today I had a chance to visit another special place, Carlingford Castle, high on the hill, the castle was likely one of the last glimpses that the Finnegan family saw when they set sail for America. And they set sail with courage and hope and they crossed the sea and through generations the Finnegans brought this island home from Ireland to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where I was raised and my mother lived."
The waiting crowds got a brief glimpse of the President standing alongside Tánaiste, Micheál Martin as they stood 'Pope like' on a balcony waving to the gathering below who were praying for it to stop raining. Then it was out of the castle for a short meet and greet followed by a little drama trying to reverse 'The Beast' back off the bridge at the castle and point it in the right direction for onward travel to Dundalk. All in all it was a whistle-stop 42 minute visit.
Journalist Clive Price also made the journey from Newry. Explaining his quest to see President Biden Price said "After finishing a day's work for my contracted employer, the Methodist Ministers' Housing Society, it was time to set off to see President Biden. He was on his way to Carlingford, a very popular medieval Irish town near our home. I grabbed my camera and phone, jumped into the car and headed off into the mist.
"By the time I reached the main road to Carlingford, the Garda had closed it off. I was diverted over the mountains! That's a long way round. But what stunning scenery. This is a heavenly journey that lifts your spirits.
Finally I reached the other end of Carlingford, but that road was closed off, too! A Garda officer waved me on, signalling that I couldn't go into the town.
"I parked up and waited with a crowd of locals. We had some laughs together as we stood in the rain. 'I'm doing all this just for one man!' said a woman from Warrenpoint. Another woman said she remembered Bill Clinton visiting Dundalk during the peace process. And so we chatted.
"Soon, President Biden and his convoy sped past. We were all taking pictures and videos. So here is mine. It was a great afternoon out, standing in the midst of history." Check out his video of the Presidential cavalcade leaving Carlingford above.
The village of Carlingford has in recent years become a favourite destination for visitors from around the world to call in to. Today's visit by President Biden will only cement that. Perhaps Newry can look after some of the overflow!
