Biden was emotional while speaking in his adopted state of Delaware.
US President-elect Joe Biden paid tribute to his Irish roots as he quoted James Joyce in a farewell speech in the state of Delaware.
In an emotional farewell to his home city of Wilmington, Biden teared up twice before paraphrasing Joyce.
“James Joyce once said, when it comes his time to pass, when he dies, he said, ‘Dublin will be written on my heart’, well, excuse the emotion, but when I die, Delaware will be written on my heart,” Biden said.
“We love you all, you’ve been there for us in the good and the bad, you’ve never walked away, and I am proud, proud, proud, proud to be a son of Delaware.”
"Dublin will be written on my heart… when I die Delaware will be written on my heart."
Joe Biden quotes James Joyce while giving an emotional farewell as he leaves his home state of Delaware for Washington DC, ahead of his inauguration as the 46th US President. pic.twitter.com/6DYbwyhAy5
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 19, 2021
Biden, who has spoken frequently of his Irish roots, visited Ireland in 2016 during his tenure as vice president during the Obama administration.
His great-grandfather, James Finnegan, emigrated from County Louth as a child, in 1850. He also has ties to the west of Ireland in Mayo.
The President-elect is travelling to Washington to take the oath of office at the US Capitol on Wednesday, just two weeks after it was stormed by some Trump supporters which left five people dead.
In another Irish connection, concert violinist Patricia Treacy will play live during the inaugural Mass on Wednesday.
Treacy will take her place following an invitation from the Biden family last year.
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