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US President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the newly opened Ulster University campus to kick off his historic visit to the island of Ireland next week. Biden is participating in events north and south of the border to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. His speech at the University of Ulster's new Belfast campus will take place on Wednesday.
Ulster University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Paul Bartholomew said it would be an important day for the institution.
“We look forward to what will be a very special day in the history of the University and welcoming President Biden on his first visit to Northern Ireland since taking office,” he declared.
"As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, Ulster University, across its three campuses, hopes to prepare the next generation of civic, business and social leaders."
The US president is scheduled to arrive in Belfast on Tuesday night accompanied by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Biden is not expected to visit the Stormont Buildings, which, along with only one confirmed engagement in Northern Ireland, is seen by some as a slight.
Irish Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin denied that was the case, arguing that any visit by a US president should be welcome.
“People envy President Biden's commitment… to the entire island of Ireland,” he said.
"I think his visit to Northern Ireland is a manifestation of his true commitment to the people of Northern Ireland."
Biden will travel to Dublin, where he will address Irish parliamentarians and meet with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and Irish President Michael D. Higgins.
A banquet will be held at Dublin Castle in honor of the president on Thursday night.
You should also visit Co Louth and Co Mayo where your ancestors originated.
Biden's great-great-grandfather, Owen Finnegan, immigrated to the US from the Cooley Peninsula, while another great-great-grandfather, Patrick Blewitt, was born in Ballina, leaving during the Irish famine in 1850 to sail to the United States.
Biden is scheduled to travel to Carlingford and Dundalk in County Louth on Wednesday before arriving in Dublin.
The end of the trip will include a public address by the President of the United States in Co Mayo, in front of St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina on Friday evening.
Varadkar said the purpose of Biden's visit was "to welcome home a son of Ireland, to welcome home a great Irish-American president."
He said it also offered an opportunity to cement the relationship between Ireland and the United States, which he said had never been stronger, and to consider the future of Northern Ireland.
A major security operation is expected to take place for Biden's visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK recruited for the Northern Ireland leg of the trip.
Sample of the strict security measures that surrounded the diplomatic departure, certain details of the presidential visit still remain to be confirmed.
The PSNI said on Saturday that it was engaging with local communities and businesses that may be affected by movement restrictions in place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
First Lady Jill Biden is not expected to travel with Biden.
PA wire
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