A Fine Gael councillor has called on Mayo County Council to erect a monument to permanently memorialise US president Joe Biden’s famous visit to Ballina last April.
Cllr Jarlath Munnelly wants some form of installation on the Cathedral Road, in front of St Muredach’s Cathedral, where President Biden gave his speech on April 14.
It was a special moment for Mr Biden as his great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827, which helped him to fund the purchase of tickets for his family to sail to America decades later in 1851, and Ballina is twinned with Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mr Biden’s hometown.
“Many people have come to Ballina since that speech and will continue to do so. But there’s nothing to mark the spot from where President Biden delivered that speech to the whole world. What I am proposing is some form of permanent installation along Cathedral Road, so visitors who come to the town in the years ahead will see something to commemorate this special moment in the town’s history.”
Cllr Munnelly cited examples of memorials in other towns across the world that mark similar speeches.
“In New Ross, on the quayside, there’s a beautiful sculpture of the lectern that President John F Kennedy used when he gave a speech there in 1963. Warsaw has something similar to celebrate President Regan.”
Cllr Munnelly said he has an open mind as to what type of monument is erected, and perhaps it could become an international artistic commission.
Fellow councillors voiced support for the proposal.
