Joe Biden in Ireland: US president meets Michael D Higgins in Dublin

The US President Joe Biden's sojourn to Ireland continues connected Thursday with set-piece engagements, including an code to the Irish parliament.

He volition walk astir of the time successful the institution of starring Irish politicians and conscionable Irish President Michael D Higgins.

His sojourn to the Republic of Ireland encompasses some the idiosyncratic and the political.

President Biden visited some Dundalk and his ancestral roots successful the municipality of Carlingford successful County Louth.

Later successful Dundalk, determination were shouts of "welcome home, Joe" erstwhile Mr Biden arrived to code an assemblage astatine the town's Windsor Bar.

There helium said Irish radical were the "only radical successful the satellite successful my presumption who are really nostalgic astir the future".

On Thursday, President Biden volition statesman his moving time with a sojourn to Áras an Uachtaráin - the location of the Irish president successful Dublin's Phoenix Park.

While there, helium is expected to inspect a subject defender of honour, works an oak histrion to people the occasion, to motion the visitors' publication and ringing the Bell of Peace.

It is unclear whether determination volition beryllium a photo-opportunity involving the 2 men and President Higgins' fashionable and much-loved dogs Bród and Misneach.

A delegation attending the lawsuit volition see Tánaiste (Irish lawman premier minister) Micheál Martin, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and erstwhile Irish shot prima Paul McGrath.

A large information cognition is besides nether mode successful the Republic of Ireland's capital, with a fig of metropolis centre roads closed.

Polythene wraps person besides been placed astir bins on the way the US president volition take.

Phoenix Park has been unopen until 17:00 section clip connected Thursday, with pavements adjacent Dublin Castle unopen for pedestrians until midnight connected Friday.

In opposition to his rain-soaked accomplishment connected Wednesday, Mr Biden looks acceptable to spot a overmuch brighter time successful Dublin with temperatures astir 12C (54F).

Then President Biden is expected to question the abbreviated region to Farmleigh House wherever helium volition person a bilateral with the Taoiseach (Irish premier minister) Leo Varadkar.

Mr Biden volition past beryllium fixed a illustration of Gaelic sports with a objection by young players earlier travelling Leinster House to code some houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament) - the Dáil and the Seanad (Senate).

Former Irish president Mary McAleese, erstwhile taoiseach Bertie Ahern and immoderate Stormont enactment leaders are among those expected to attend.

Marie Heaney, the widow of the precocious writer Seamus Heaney, volition beryllium a peculiar impermanent of the US President, Irish nationalist broadcaster RTÉ reports.

"He was astir anxious that she would beryllium contiguous arsenic portion of his delegation due to the fact that we cognize helium is perfectly besotted by the enactment of Seamus Heaney and has quoted him extensively," Ceann Comhairle (speaker) Seán Ó Feargháil said.

After his speech, President Biden volition beryllium the evening impermanent of honour astatine a authorities relation successful Dublin Castle, the erstwhile spot of British powerfulness successful Ireland.

Despite the rain, radical lined the streets of Carlingford to invited the US President backmost to Ireland - among them, distant relatives.

Eamonn Thornton celebrates Mr Biden's Irish ancestry with "From Whitestown, County Louth to the White House, Washington," emblazoned connected the backmost of his achromatic van.

Mr Thornton met his relative, who helium calls a local, during 1 of his past visits.

"When helium was present the past time, helium conscionable came successful and welcomed everyone, precise affectional having visited the sedate of his great-great grandparents.

"For him to beryllium astatine the graveyard touching the headstone of his relations, who would ever person thought that would hap to a local?"

"His property is against him, but helium has the Irish tone successful him and that's arsenic bully arsenic 7 points connected the shot field."

He praised politicians for their unity aft the attempted execution of 1 of Northern Ireland's apical detectives successful February.

On Friday, the US President is expected to question to County Mayo wherever helium volition again research his Irish ancestry.

Another great-great gramps Edward Blewitt besides near Ireland astir the clip of the famine.

While successful the region the President, who is simply a Catholic, is besides expected to sojourn shrine astatine Knock and to marque an outdoor code to radical successful Ballina earlier helium ends his 4 time sojourn to the island.

His great-great gramps Owen Finnegan near determination for America successful the precocious 1840s.

Declan Harvey and Tara Mills research the substance of the Good Friday Agreement - the woody which heralded the extremity of the Troubles successful Northern Ireland.

They look astatine what the statement really said and perceive from immoderate of the radical who helped get the woody crossed the line.