The band Joe Biden called the greatest of all time
Following Christopher Columbus’ “discovery” of North America in 1492, the continent underwent a period of dramatic change as European migrants colonised the “new world” at the expense of native civilisations. After three centuries of development and war, the settlers declared their independence on July 4th, 1776. After this moment of relative stabilisation, migrants continued to enrich the continent, including the Irish, who entered en masse following the Great Famine in the 19th century. Among them were the ancestors of President Joe Biden.
On a search through Biden’s ancestry, ten of his 16 great-great-grandparents were born in Ireland. He is known to have descended from the Blewitts of County Mayo and the Finnegans of County Louth. The 81-year-old politician also has some English blood; one of his great-great-great-grandfathers was born in Sussex in the south of England and emigrated to Maryland, US, in 1820.
Like many Americans, Biden’s family brought him up to love both his country of birth and his ancestral origin. Hence, his childhood was full of Irish tradition, and St. Patrick’s Day was one of the most important occasions on the calendar. Speaking on St. Patrick’s Day in 2023, Biden recalled his grandfather’s Irish pride. “Every time I’d walk out of his house in Scranton, Pennsylvania, when I lived there for a while, he’d look at me and say, ‘Joey, remember, the best drop of blood in you is Irish,'” he mused.
When deciphering a president’s music taste, it can be difficult to discern whether the music they play at their rallies is part of a ploy for votes or from genuine attachment. Fortunately, Biden created a playlist with his wife, Dr Jill Biden, in 2016 while he was Vice President to President Barack Obama. Among their favourites were songs by The Beatles, Joe Cocker, Bruce Springsteen, Al Green, Coldplay, Adele, Sam Smith and Lady Gaga.
The playlist certainly showed some depth and range to the Bidens’ taste but was notably void of any traditional Irish music, which turns out to be his favourite style. In an appearance on RTÉ One in 2021, uilleann piper Paddy Moloney discussed his band The Chieftains, whom the newly-elected President Biden had described as his all-time favourite. “He comes to concerts,” Moloney said. “We would have been playing for him on St. Patrick’s Day, of course, but unfortunately, the way things are, that had to be abandoned.”
At the time, Covid-19 lockdown restrictions prevented the band from playing for Biden in the US. Sadly, Moloney passed away several months later, in October 2021. The band reunited in 2023 to perform for Biden during his visit to Ballina, County Mayo. “You guys are amazing. Let’s give another big hand to The Chieftains,” Biden announced following the performance. “I remember being back with you in 2016. I’m grateful you came back for one more time to perform tonight. Thank you to The Chieftains. Your music is incredible and I’ve been a longtime fan.”
Sadly, fiddler Seán Keane passed away just a few weeks later. The US Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin, led tributes to the late musician, noting the band’s global impact and relaying Biden’s condolences. “Just weeks ago, Sean performed for President Biden in Ballina. He was genuinely moved to see The Chieftains together again for one last time,” she announced. “Sean’s remarkable career saw him play with the world’s greatest musicians and collect six Grammy awards with The Chieftains, bringing traditional Irish music to a new audience in the US and around the world. May he rest in peace.”
The Chieftains are among Ireland’s most celebrated traditional folk bands. The group formed in Dublin in 1962, initially led by Moloney, Seán Potts and Michael Tubridy. Keane played the fiddle with Ceoltóirí Chualann in the 1960s before joining The Chieftains in 1968. Although further performances for President Biden look extremely unlikely, the band remains active today, led by Kevin Conneff and Matt Molloy.
