Joe Biden forebears contributed to Famine relief

Public service may well be in the genes for US vice president Joe Biden, judging by his ancestor’s contribution to Famine relief in Ireland.

Mr Biden was in Co Mayo yesterday to visit his ancestral home town of Ballina where he learned public service was something very much in his blood.

Before arriving into the town, he was greeted by Ciarán Reilly of Maynooth University who informed Barack Obama’s 2008 running mate that his family played a key role in providing relief to people in the town during the Great Famine.