When Mark Duffy entered politics as an independent councillor in Ballina four years ago, he never dreamed that one day he would be welcoming the President of America on stage in his hometown, let alone in front of 27,000 people, but that is exactly what happened last April.
Ballina celebrated its 300th year in 2023, but long before that Mark had been emailing and calling the United States to invite President Joe Biden to return to visit Co Mayo as he had promised to do after he became president.
“The stars aligned” in 2023, Mark said, and the president’s visit was a huge celebration of Ballina and its people.
Around three weeks before the visit, it became clear something was about to happen.
Sharp-eyed locals spotted some strangers in town who turned out to be US secret service agents and an advance team of White House staff scoping out Ballina for a presidential visit.
At the time, Mark was mayor of Ballina, meaning he was very involved in laying the groundwork for the visit.
In the weeks running up to President Biden’s arrival on Friday 14 April, Mark had to put everything else in his life aside to attend meeting after meeting with the Americans, local authorities and the many community members involved in the preparations. “It was 24/7,” he said.
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Right up until midnight the night before, people were painting and working on the finishing touches to town.
It was only then while Mark was making sure the set-up outside St Muredach’s Cathedral was all ok that he was taken aside and asked if he would like to introduce President Biden before what would be the key address of his Irish visit.
“It was a great celebration of Ballina and its people and is something which will go down in the annals of the history of Ballina.”
Mark arrived home at 2am to write his speech before his day began at 7am with a series of interviews with local, national and international media.
The town was effectively closed down with huge crowds streaming in to enjoy the atmosphere and pick their spot for the main event outside of the cathedral.
Mark said he entered politics as a community activist and never thought as an independent councillor he would ever be standing on stage in his hometown introducing the US president.
Mark remembers clearly that The Waterboys were playing ‘The Whole of the Moon’ when he was asked: “Are you ready?”
He looked out at the thousands of people, the Irish cabinet, the American delegation and the Biden family and replied: “Yes, let’s go.”
“Walking out was a lovely moment,” he said, but “it was a bit surreal”.
That night in Ballina was very special one, and it was not just down to the president who was of course the centrepiece of the big event, Mark said. It was about the people who came along, the musicians who played, the whole energy that was there on the night made it really special, he added.
“It was a great celebration of Ballina and its people and is something which will go down in the annals of the history of Ballina”, he said.
Mark believes the visit had has, and will continue to have, a positive impact on the town in terms of its economy and tourism.
After the visit, Mark and others received a thank-you letter from President Biden, which he described as a “really nice touch”.
He framed it with photographs of them together on the night and is it hung proudly above his desk.
In the letter, President Biden thanked Mark for his kindness and hospitality and “for all that you have done as mayor to help deepen the partnership and strengthen the friendship between the Irish American people”.
President Biden added in the letter that the visit “felt like coming home”.
“And as always, Mayo for Sam!” he signed off with.
The letter is something Mark will always treasure along with the memories of what was a major moment in the history of Ballina.
