US President-elect Joe Biden has rarely shied away from talking up his connections to Ireland – and that trend will continue at his inauguration, with The Chieftains set to play at the ceremony.
Mr Biden, who defeated incumbent Donald Trump to the US presidency this month, has already extended a provisional invitation to the legendary Dublin band, the Irish Mail on Sunday reports.
It's not yet clear whether the trad band will play virtually or in person at the inauguration, which is scheduled to take place in January 2021.
But the 77-year-old president-elect, a lifelong fan of The Chieftains, seems determined to have the band play in some form or other.
Paddy Moloney, the founder of the band, told the Mail on Sunday that "Joe is a big fan of the band."
The main man of The Chieftains said he had sent Mr Biden a special message to congratulate him on winning the presidency.
"I did send a message to congratulate him," he said. "We would be, of course, honoured to play for Joe and I certainly would go but everything would have to be safe to travel."
Paddy added that if Covid-19 restrictions prevent them from travelling to Washington DC for the ceremony, The Chieftains will attempt to work out a virtual alternative.
He added that Mr Biden, who he called a "good friend," had his support in the election – though he doesn't engage in politics or religion.
"I sent him a message after the election. He is a great man, and he’s as fit as an old fiddle. I couldn’t believe it when I saw him running all about the place," Paddy told the Mail on Sunday.
Mr Biden saw off President Trump in this month's election, claiming 306 electoral college votes and winning more votes than any other presidential candidate in history.
But a smooth transition into a Biden presidency seems unlikely as Mr Trump continues to dispute the result and peddle baseless theories of electoral fraud.
Said Paddy: "We are all supporting him here, and if we can get there to play with everything going on it would be our biggest honour."
