The security bill for US President , Joe Biden's visit to Ireland will exceed 50 million euro. That's according to today's Sunday Independent.
Mr Biden flew out of Ireland from Ireland West airport Knock on Friday night following a four day tour which began in Northern Ireland on Tuesday and passed off without any major security issue.
Keeping the President on schedule was the only real issue - according to a source attached to Garda Headquarters.
"He was not a man who could be kept to schedule because he was enjoying talking to people so much , he would often stay in places a lot longer chatting".
Senior gardai and the US secret service were in constant dialogue during the trip, and in the couple of months leading up to it. The major garda operation involved thousands of officers, with all annual leave cancelled for members of the force during the visit.
It's understood that about 300 secret service agents travelled to Ireland to Bolster Mr Biden's security.
Knockmore native Laurita Blewitt is a cousin to President Biden. Her husband Joe Brolly writing in today's Irish Independent says that at the banquet in Dublin Castle on Thursday night last they were sitting at the table next to the President's. After the starters he came over and sat beside them and said "Laurita you guys have gotta come with us to Knock on Airforce One tomorrow"
Larurita replied "I can't, I have to get my hair done in Foxford at 11 am.
Joe Brolly writes, "The President shot me a "she must be kidding look". I shrugged my shoulders.
Next morning , at 5 to 11, I was dropping the glamorous brunette off at Sharon's in Foxford.
No man can come between a woman and her hair . Not even the most powerful man in the world."
