Music
13 Apr 23

The Chieftains, The Coronas and The Academic to play at Biden event in Ballina

The Chieftains at the RTE Folk Awards 2022. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

The free event, taking place in front of St Muredach's Cathedral, is open to the public.

As part of his Irish visit, US president Joe Biden is set to speak at a public event in Ballina, Co. Mayo tomorrow, April 14. The evening will feature music from The Chieftains, The Coronas and The Academic.

Biden will speak to the crowd – estimated to be around 20,000 – in front of St Muredach's Cathedral, with gates to the event set to open at 5.30pm. The official programme kicks off at 7pm.

The US president's trip to Ireland will culminate with the Mayo visit. His great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt departed from Ballina during the Famine, to emigrate to America. Blewitt reportedly sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827, which helped him to afford tickets to sail to America with his family decades later.

Recent Hot Press cover stars The Academic took to Instagram to say that they are "extremely proud" to have been asked to perform for Biden.

You can register to attend the event here.

See you Friday @POTUS!! pic.twitter.com/PzLPtT4Hyc

— The Coronas (@TheCoronas) April 12, 2023

Biden is set to meet the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, today. He will later become the fourth American president to address the Oireachtas. This evening, he'll attend a banquet dinner in Dublin Castle.