Biden visit to Ireland 'moving experience' - Hunter Biden

Former US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, recently shared that his family's visit to Ireland in 2023 was a "very moving experience." Speaking to RTÉ’s Oliver Callan, Mr. Biden reflected on the deep family ties to Ireland and his own struggle with substance abuse. One of the very few public appearances he made during his father's presidency was a trip to Ireland in April 2023. "I was never more proud of a public appearance that my dad made when he was in Ballina," Mr. Biden recalled.

During the visit, the former president delivered a speech declaring Mayo for Sam, a video that quickly gained global attention. "If I want to cheer myself up, I still watch the video of that," he added. Another poignant moment was their visit to the Knock Cathedral, a particularly emotional experience for the family. "We always said that we would be there together," Mr. Biden shared.

The trip left a lasting impression on the entire family. Standing in Carlingford Lough, Mr. Biden gazed upon the body of water where one of their ancestors, Finnegans, departed from Ireland. "It's incredibly painful, the diagnosis my father received," he said, speaking about his father's stage 4 prostate cancer. Despite the challenges, "he's still so tough," Mr. Biden noted. "I wish he would complain more, but that's the singular thing about my dad - his ability to endure life's struggles."

Father and son remain committed to spreading hope and raising awareness about issues related to recovery, addiction, trauma, and grief. "The willingness and transparency to talk about it, to let people know they're not alone," is what truly matters, Mr. Biden emphasized.