Joe Biden confirms plan to visit Ireland

US vice-president Joe Biden will travel to Ireland next month as part of his repeatedly stated aim to visit his ancestral home before his term in office ends.

During a speech in Washington DC, Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed the visit will take place.

Speaking at the opening night of the ‘Ireland 100’ festival during the first public engagement of his two-day 1916 commemoration trip to the US, Mr Kenny said Mr Biden will come to Ireland “in the coming weeks” to reconnect with his family roots.