“Ballina is looking beautiful” ahead of the visit of US President Joe Biden later today.
A major security operation is in place across Mayo as President Biden prepares to end his Irish visit in the west of Ireland county.
He is due to arrive into Ireland West Airport at around 1:45pm and will visit Knock shrine shortly afterwards.
Gardaí have announced a wide range of traffic diversions and road closures in Castlebar and Ballina – where the president will give a public address at St Muredach’s Cathedral at around 9pm.
There is also an evening of live music planned on the banks of the River Moy, with performances from the Chieftans, the Academic and the Coronas from 7pm until late.
President Michael D Higgins and US President Joe Biden at Áras an Uachtaráin. Image: RollingNewsMayo TD Michael Ring told Newstalk President Biden is sure to enjoy his time in Mayo.
“The county is alive and I’ll tell you one thing he is going to get one almighty welcome from Mayo people and the Ballina people this evening in Mayo and I can assure you, there will be loud noise in his ear going home,” he said.
“He will enjoy himself, there is a great evening of entertainment promised and I know he is looking forward to coming back to his ancestral home.”
No better man for a selfie with President Biden @HenryMcKean 👏 pic.twitter.com/gzRWLJa5nW
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He said the visit is important for Mayo tourism.
“The visit today to Mayo is very important for Mayo and I have to say the most important man in the world, the President of the United States of America being in Mayo today – pictures of this will go all over the world,” he said.
“I can assure you Ballina is looking beautiful.”
US President Joe Biden at McAteers Food House in Dundalk.Air Force One will land at Knock Airport at around lunchtime before the presidential convoy makes its way to the Marian Shrine in Knock.
President Biden will then travel to the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre to learn more about his ancestors who left Mayo in the mid-1800s.
Later in the day, he will meet some of his local cousins before delivering his speech at St Muredach’s Cathedral.
The speech is due at around 9pm and the president will depart Ballina by helicopter shortly afterwards.
He will fly to Dublin where he will transfer to another plane for his journey home.
US President Joe Biden with President Higgin’s granddaughter Fiadh at Áras an Uachtaráin. Image: RollingNewsGardaí are urging members of the public to heed their advice and instructions ahead of the Mayo leg of the visit.
They are also asking people to plan their journeys and to leave enough time for possible traffic disruptions.
The force is reminding people that the use of drones is prohibited within 5km of any airport, over urban areas, over crowds and in other restricted areas, and that non-compliance is a criminal offence.
The full list of traffic diversions is available here.
Yesterday, President Biden told the Oireachtas the US will "continue to support Ireland every step of the way".
That speech came after a range of different engagements in Dundalk and Dublin - where Newstalk's own Henry McKean found himself the centre of attention.
