Biden in Ballina: 'When I Was a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania,' With Hunter Along (April 14, 2023)

On the last night of his Ireland trip, President Joe Biden stood outside St. Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina, County Mayo, and described the years after his vice presidency this way: “This strong bond brought me back in 2017 when I was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. No crowds, no motorcades, no Secret Service. Just me and my brother Jimmy coming home to see family,” he said [1].

His family was with him this time. “My son Hunter and my sister Valerie and I made several stops across Mayo today,” Biden told the crowd [1]. Earlier, the pool reported, Biden “boarded the plane at 1:12 PM with Hunter Biden and Valerie Biden Owens” [2].

The video above shows the end of Biden’s April 14, 2023, speech in Ballina. Quotes are from the official transcripts and pool reports published by the American Presidency Project [1][2][3].

“27,000 Bricks”

The White House explained why Biden spoke at the cathedral. “Edward Blewitt (the President’s great-great-great grandfather) sold 27,000 bricks to St. Muredach’s Cathedral in 1828,” it told the pool. “He was paid £21 and 12 shillings for 27,000 bricks - equivalent to about £20,000/ $25,000.” [2]

“The White House said the crowd size for the remarks was 27,000,” the pooler wrote [2].

A Plaque for Beau

The day was built around family. Biden visited the Mayo Roscommon Hospice, where “A plaque at the entrance to the hospice is dedicated to Beau Biden’s memory,” the White House said. “The President broke ground at its construction in 2017,” it added [2].

There, the pool reported, Biden “greeted several people outside the center, including distant cousin Laurita Blewitt” [2]. Before the speech, “POTUS flew over the crowd in Marine One,” the White House confirmed [2].

”More Would If They Could”

Biden traced his family to Scranton. “They settled in my hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in Ballina’s sister city,” he said, noting that he had brought Scranton’s mayor along: “I invited the mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, to come with me.” [1]

He said more than 32 million Americans claim Irish heritage. “More would if they could,” he joked, to laughter [1].

”Excuse Me, Before I Became Vice President”

Earlier that day, in an interview with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, Biden talked about his late son Beau. “Well, you know, Beau and Hunter and I talked about — after I stopped being Vice President, about — excuse me, before I became Vice President — about, we’re going to go to Ireland one day,” he said [3].

He described meeting the military chaplain who had given Beau last rites. “I know it sounds stupid, I should probably hesitate to say it, but I felt like Beau was with me, and it just felt like it completed the circle, too,” Biden said [3].

In the speech, Biden told the story himself. “And we also met out of the blue—we didn’t know he was there—a former military chaplain, Father O’Grady, who gave my son the last rites in Walter Reed Medical Hospital in Washington. It was incredible to see him. It seemed like a sign,” he said [1].

He also greeted a former Irish prime minister’s wife from the stage: “God love her, she’s going to go straight to Heaven.” [1]

In the speech, he described Beau as “a decorated war hero from—attorney general to Delaware” [1].

”Mayo for Sam!”

Biden closed with a family saying and a sports cheer. “Every time I walked out of my Grandfather Finnegan’s home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, he’d yell, ‘Joey, keep the faith.’” Then: “And, oh, one more thing: Mayo for Sam! Mayo for Sam! Thank you, thank you, thank you.” [1]

“POTUS wrapped his remarks at 10:13 PM. U2’s Beautiful Day blared and spotlights filled the sky as he exited to cheers,” the pool reported [2].

”I’ve Already Made That Calculus”

At the airport, Biden took a question about 2024. “I’ve already made that calculus. We’ll announce it relatively soon,” he said, according to the pool [2].

On a leak-related arrest, he said he had asked officials to “Make sure they get to the root of why he had access in the first place” [2].

By the Numbers

27,000: bricks sold to the cathedral in 1828, and the crowd size the White House reported [2].
£21 and 12 shillings: what Biden’s ancestor was paid for the bricks [2].
2017: the year Biden said he was “a professor” at Penn [1].
10:13 p.m.: when Biden finished speaking, per the pool [2].
11 days: from “relatively soon” to Biden’s reelection announcement [2][4].

What Happened Next

He announced. On April 25, 2023, Biden released a video. “That’s why I’m running for re-election,” he said, warning that “MAGA extremists are lining up to take those bedrock freedoms away” [4].

He pardoned Hunter. On Dec. 1, 2024, Biden said: “Today I signed a pardon for my son Hunter.” He added: “It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.” [5]

For the record on Biden’s “professor” claim, see HYGO News’ page on Albuquerque. For his earlier stop in Dundalk, see the page on his Xi Jinping story, and for Hunter’s special counsel, the page on Camp David.