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12th Apr 2023

Joe Biden makes Black and Tans slip during Dundalk speech

JOE

Joe Biden black and tans

“A hell of a rugby player, he beat the hell out of the Black and Tans…”

Joe Biden made a slip during a speech in Dundalk, where he appeared to mistakenly mention the Black and Tans.

The US President was speaking at Windsor Bar in the Co. Louth town during a visit to the region where his ancestors were from.

Mr Biden was speaking about former Ireland rugby player Rob Kearney, who is his distant cousin and was present at the speech.

Joe Biden black and tans

Joe Biden makes Black and Tans slip during Dundalk speech.

Kearney was part of the Ireland team that beat New Zealand in Chicago in 2016, the first time Ireland ever beat the All Blacks.

The US President appeared to momentarily mix up The All Blacks, the nickname for the New Zealand rugby union team, with the Black and Tans, who were reinforcements added to the Royal Irish Constabulary during the War of Independence.

“See this tie I have? This shamrock tie? It was given to me by one of these guys right here,” Mr Biden said, referring to Kearney.

The American president said that his distant cousin is a “hell of a rugby player, who beat the hell out of the Black and Tans.”

You can watch the clip below.

President Biden’s visit to Ireland started in Belfast on Wednesday and he spent the second half of the day in Co. Louth.

On Thursday, he will be in Dublin. Mr Biden then travels to Co. Mayo on Friday, where his visit will end.

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