Joe Biden gushes that his 'heart' is in Dublin amid unionist anger trends now
Joe Biden gushed that his 'heart' is in Ireland today as he met his counterpart on the latest leg of his visit.
The US president said it is 'a pleasure to be back' as he was welcomed by Michael D Higgins at his Dublin residence.
Mr Biden said he had written in the guest book quoting an Irish proverb, 'your feet will bring you where your heart is'.
'I'm not going home,' he told watching media. 'Isn't this an incredible place?'
The latest effusive pledge of allegiance to Ireland - which cynics suggest is linked to the looming US election campaign - came despite a backlash at his 'partisan' and 'anti-British' stance.
The White House was forced to issue a correction after Mr Biden jibed about 'the Black and Tans' during a pub visit in County Louth last night.
Mr Biden said he was wearing a shamrock tie given to him by rugby-player Rob Kearney - a distant relative - saying approvingly that he 'beat the hell out of the Black and Tans'.
The Blacks and Tans was an auxilliary police force sent to Ireland in the 1920s to counter IRA extremism - pilloried in Republican folk songs for their brutality. The group was notably singled out in the pro-IRA song, 'Come Out, Ye Black And Tans', still popular with Irish rebel bands.
However, the White House website attempted to smooth over the situation by clarifying its official record to refer to the All Blacks - the New Zealand Rugby team.
The comment drew laughter in the pub, with Mr Biden's reputation as a gaffe machine leaving room for doubt about whether it was intentional or merely a slip.
He also said that he 'hated' the fact his father had passed on an English surname - although he insisted he was 'joking'.
Baroness Kate Hoey told MailOnline the episode 'underscores why so many pro-union people feel that he really only understands Irish Republican history'.
UUP Stormont assembly member Tom Elliott said there were 'significant concerns' in the unionist community about Mr Biden favouring the Irish side.
'Most of the gaffes are against the British or the unionist community... he doesn't even try to be neutral on those occasions,' he told Talk TV.
'Comments like that about the Black and Tans... I think that just demonstrates that he has a deep rooted Irishness and that he is obviously on the side of the nationalist community.'
Joe Biden said it is 'a pleasure to be back' as he was welcomed by Michael D Higgins (left) at his Dublin residence today
Mr Biden said he had written in the guest book quoting an Irish proverb, 'your feet will bring you where your heart is'
Mr Biden reviewed troops as he continued his emotional visit to Ireland today
The White House website attempted to smooth over the situation by clarifying its official record to refer to the All Blacks - the New Zealand Rugby team
Mr Biden referenced Rob Kearney - the Irish rugby player, who is a distant cousin. Mr Biden is pictured welcoming Kearney to the White House on March 17, to celebrate St Patrick's Day
Kearney (left) is pictured celebrating Ireland's first ever defeat of the All Blacks - a 40-29 victory in a match held at Chicago's Soldier Field
The incident threatens to inflame tensions over Mr Biden's 'partisan' stance towards Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Former DUP leader Baroness Foster said on the eve of his arrival that the US president 'hates the UK' - forcing Mr Biden's senior aide, Amanda Sloat, to insist he is 'not anti-British'.
The 80-year-old is considered the most Irish of all US presidents, with 10 of his 16 great great grandparents coming from the Emerald Isle.
Speaking at the pub in Dundalk, just south of the Northern Ireland border, Mr Biden proudly declared that Kearney, who won 95 caps for the Irish team from 2007-19, had given him the shamrock tie he was wearing.
'This was given to me by one of these guys, right here, a hell of a rugby player,' said Mr Biden.
'He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans.'
Kearney, voted Europe's best player in 2012, played a pivotal role
