There was an “eruption of pure joy” on the streets of New York City as people heard that Joe Biden had won the bitterly contested US presidential race.
People were banging on pots and pans in excitement as it was confirmed that Mr Biden would be the next president of the United States, Katherine Zappone said today.
The former TD and Children’s Minister has been in New York campaigning for the Democratic candidate.
She described the excitement on the streets of New York, telling Miriam O’Callaghan on RTE Radio One: “I was out taking a walk, as I thought it would take much longer for the result to come.
“I started to hear a few pots banging and people started coming out onto the streets and I said, Oh my god, he must have won!
“It was an eruption of pure joy.
“There were young, old, black, white, brown, Latino and Asian people all dancing in the streets.
“Fire engines and taxis were honking their horns.
“People were dancing, singing and shouting with tears streaming down their cheeks.”
Ms Zappone said Mr Biden is a decent and kind person who will heal the divisions that have torn America apart.
She said: “We needed to bring democracy back to America.
“And we were voting as well for the character of the man, the values that he holds as well as the plans he’s put together.”
