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TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021 • THE MAYO NEWS BIDEN MAYO’S US PRESIDENT 1 BID N MAYO’S US PRESIDENT A SOUVeniR SUPPLEMenT FROM THE MaYO NEWS ISSUE SECTION SUB SECTION PAGE PDF MADE DESIGN SALES READ EDITOR PDF OK DEC 22 1 0 KL DAY DAY DAY DAY TIME TIME TIME TIME MOdifiED Mon, Jan 18, 20:01 OUTPUT Thu, Jan 21, 17:18 LOCATION Server:THIS WEEK:z OLD:20210119:BIDEN SUPPLEMENT:JOE BIDEN SUPPLEMENT Page 1-8.indd 2 BIDEN MAYO’S US PRESIDENT THE MAYO NEWS • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021 TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021 • THE MAYO NEWS BIDEN MAYO’S US PRESIDENT 3 All the way from Biden’s affection for Ballina to Capitol Hill his ‘home’ county is clear, and he’s only too happy to talk about it ÁINE RYAN Blewitt from Ballina who became a Biden from Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, is about to the First Citizen of the United States. Doesn’t it have Aa nice ring to it. Doesn’t it resonate dur- ing these dark days, particularly for all those Mayo people who were forced to emigrate over the decades, indeed, the centuries. Doesn’t it give hope to all those undocumented Irish who have been living in fear of deportation? In so many ways, the great-great-great- grandson of Edward Blewitt becoming the President of one of the most power- ful countries in the world underpins the story of the US. Or, at least, the one that has been the dominant narrative of Hol- lywood movies and romantic novels. If we have learned one thing over the last four years it is that this vast federal society is a complex one with chasmic differences in it multicultural and myr- TOURIST ATTRACTION Pictured at the unveiling of the Joe Biden mural in Ballina last September were members of the Ballina Community Clean-Up Committee with members of the Blewitt family, iad race and religious beliefs and inter- local relations of the new President of the USA. Pic: John O'Grady ests. If there is one thing that Donald Trump’s presidency has succeeded in achieving, it is the exposure of how flawed the political, economic and cultural system of this great country has become. This is underscored by the fact that a Build it, and they will come narcissistic despot – whose main inter- est is himself – can influence over 74 million people to vote for him. AMONG HIS OWN The new President of the USA, Joe Biden, pictured with locals during his visit to his ancestral home of Ballina in 2016, when he Those frightening scenes on Capitol was US Vice President. Pic: Maxwells Hill on January 6 exposed the fissures in the world. compelling tale that transcends politics. in that society in a most grim and con- Anne-MaRIE Mural artist Padraig ‘Smiler’ Mitchell, who painted with Biden’s affection for his ‘home’ county is clear, and he’s cerning manner. As one commentator cratic process for the election of US FLYNN fellow artist Leslie Lackey, always intended it to be this only too happy to talk about it. He has made clear his inten- opined: it was like a scene from a Quen- presidents – we all know, this scene could way. Even if he didn’t quite anticipate the intensity of the tion to return to Mayo, and like in 2016, will bring the eyes tin Tarantino movie. have easily turned in to a bloodbath. global reaction. For days, he and members of the Ballina of the world with him. Advertising you could not buy. Such Septuagenarian Joe Biden has his work The reality is that the big social media photo with the mural of Joe Biden located in Community Clean-Up Group, who supported the project, profile for the town, which has been working hard to attract cut out for him. Dealing with the fall-out channels may have temporarily muted Market Square, Ballina, has become – in the couldn’t walk anywhere without a camera crew looking and delight visitors in recent years, can only encourage over Trump’s attitude to the pandemic Trump’s myopic megaphone but like the words of the Australian Ambassador to Ireland, for a few words. Aware of the potential interest a project more people to come and see it for themselves, and Ballina would be more than enough for most spoiled brat that he is, he has now warned no less – ‘the must-have selfie of the year’. Hav- like this could generate, he and his fellow volunteers had and North Mayo will be ready. incumbents of such high office to address, he will set up his own platform. Let’s ing spotted the image of Biden’s smile beaming set about creating a striking image that could become never mind a deeply divided society not even begin to surmise how danger- fromA a gable wall in Ballina on his TV during US election iconic and draw the eyes of the world into the town. BIDEN CENTRE? whose chief enforcer has been an ego ous that could be or, indeed, how a more week, His Excellency Mr Gary Gray, the Ambassador of THERE is already talk of a Biden Centre, to complement maniacal president stoking the flames intelligent, pragmatic political leader or Australia, his partner Pippa and dog Ted just had to stop RESOUNDING SUCCESS the soon-to-be-realised Mary Robinson Centre. Thanks to of hatred. Septuagenarion aspirant dictator could manipulate his by Ballina on a recent trip west for a shot. You could say it has been a resounding success, but that increased investment and collaborative efforts in recent So why did the big social media giants Joe Biden has or her own platform to stoke up Mr Gray was not alone; visits from NBC, CNN, Sky, BBC, won’t become clear in reality until the visitors start arriv- years, the tourism offering has grown stronger by the year. like Facebook and Twitter wait until a unrest. Al Jazeera ensured that billions of people around the world ing. But the indications are good. When they visit, there will be plenty to see and do. Upon seditious assault on Capitol Hill before his work cut So many of us will breathe a sigh of enjoyed a glimpse into life in the north Mayo capital, where Mitchell has been inundated with emails and texts from recovery, the prospect of direct US flights into Ireland they stopped this man? Moreover, why out for him relief tomorrow when Joe Biden is sworn Joe Biden’s great-great-great grandfather once raised a the US and around the world, from places as far-flung as West Airport will no doubt become a hot topic again. And did Youtube wait until January 12 to in as the 46th President of the US , along- family of nine with his wife Mary Mulderrig, adjacent to Bahrain; and the message is unanimous. They can’t wait in Ballina, visitors can be assured of an earthiness, humour temporarily ban Trump’s channel from side his Vice President, Kamala Harris, what is now Harrison’s Bar on Garden Street. In 2016, the to come and see it for themselves. Ballina will welcome and authenticity that is hard found in more established uploading new videos or live-streams a momentous moment for gender equal- then US Vice-President paid a visit, and a smiling photo them with open arms. In ordinary times, the US diaspora tourism destinations. because, according to a report in The ity. Let’s hope the Democrat’s tight Sen- with owner Derek Leonard now hangs proudly on the wall travels in their droves to this emigration-hit part of Ireland, The Biden mural was borne out of a community project Guardian ‘earlier content violated poli- ate majority allows them to steer a steady of the bar. to visit family and find long-lost relatives. They have been - Ballina Community Clean-Up’s intention to acknowledge cies for inciting violence’. ship in the next four years. Next week, TV crews will once again converge upon the sorely missed over the past year, and they too, have missed their own. Tributes paid to Jack Charlton, Michael Gaughan, Why did it talk six days after the assault All of us here certainly wish him a fair town to coincide with Biden’s inauguration, but strict lock- Ireland. Numerous posters on the Mayo.ie and Mayo North and soon, Joe Corcoran and others, signify their intention for a YouTube spokesperson to say in a wind from the ancestral county of his down measures prevent any marking of the occasion, and Tourism social media channels speaking of longing for the to tell the stories of the people of this place, and make statement to CNN: “After careful review, maternal forebears here in the wild west indeed, prevent Biden’s Mayo family, the Blewitts, with green fields of home, after a longer than planned them visible in the townscape. Family is everything, as the and in light of concerns about the ongo- late? What if some of the weapons and of Ireland. whom he enjoys a close personal friendship, from travel- absence. Bidens and the Blewitts will testify, and tourism would ing potential for violence, we removed pipe bombs had been used to a more ling to attend. Naturally, there has been some pushback; concerns have lack substance without the fascinating tales like theirs. new content uploaded to the Donald J devastating effect? Alongside the insur- But better days lie ahead, and it is certain that, having been raised locally about politicisation, and of course, the Storytelling like this adds layers of personal interest across Trump channel and issued a strike for gents who obstructed the counting of HISTORY MAKER Kamala Harris firmly and deliberately staked its claim, the town will do US diaspora is both blue and red.

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