The verbal blunder made by President Biden yesterday in Dundalk has been corrected in official White House transcripts.

During his speech in front of distant relatives and guests at Dundalk town’s Windsor Bar, President Biden remarked how his former Irish rugby player cousin Rob Kearney "beat the hell out of the Black and Tans".

In the official transcript, the words "Black and Tans" have been crossed-out, and next to it, replaced with “All Blacks”.

The verbal gaffe occurred as he referred to the shamrock tie he was wearing which had been gifted to him by Rob Kearney after the Irish team’s victory against New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2016.

"See this tie I have, this shamrock tie?,” Biden began.

"It was given to by one of these guys right here, who's a hell of a rugby player who beat the hell out of the Black and Tans."

President Biden arriving at Dublin Airport and being greeted by family and friends of US Embassy staff in Ireland at the Fire Station.

After grimacing, Mr Biden continued correcting himself, "Ah god. But, but it was when you were at Soldier Field, wasn't it? Chicago."

"After it was all over he gave my brother, allegedly for me - but if it wasn't I still took it – I still got the tie. I wore it with great pride."

Before his appearance in Dundalk, Biden had previously that day, delivered an impassioned speech in Belfast, marking 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement.

Today, the US President is due to meet Michael D. Higgins in the Áras and later,  Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park. Biden will then address the Dáil later in the day, becoming the fourth US president to do so, following in the footsteps of JFK in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995.

Tomorrow, the US president will be treated to performances by The Chieftains, The Coronas and The Academic in Ballina, Co.Mayo.