Biden has strong Mayo links

MAYO could be represented in the White House if Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is successful in his election campaign.

After announcing his running-mate as Senator Joseph Biden last Saturday, celebrations commenced in north Mayo where Obama’s right-hand man has strong family ties.

The Mayo townlands of Rappa and Cooneal, outside Ballina, were home to the senator’s ancestors.

Third-cousin of Senator Biden, Brendan Blewitt, from Runagry in Knockmore, explained the link.

“Patrick Blewitt emigrated from Mayo in 1835. He had a son called Edward, who in turn had a daughter called Geraldine Blewitt. Geraldine would have been Joseph Biden’s grandmother. Geraldine settled in Pennsylvania. Looking into the family ties, that would make myself and Joe Biden third cousins,” said Mr Blewitt.

The 65-year-old senator was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania to a Catholic Irish-American family and also has family ties in Derry, from where his grandfather came.

Ballina and Scranton are twinned in a ‘sister city’ programme.