People braving the rain waiting to welcome President Joe Biden to Dundalk

Eager members of the public in ponchos and raincoats are lining the streets of Dundalk as they prepared to welcome US President Joe Biden on a wet Wednesday.

Red, white and blue bunting was strung across the road while people held American flags, tricolours and took cover under umbrellas in the steady evening drizzle.

Mr Biden’s grandfather, James Finnegan, was born in Co Louth.

A sign reading “Dundalk welcomes President Biden” hung above Clanbrassil Street as families with young children waited in anticipation of the US leader’s arrival on the first day of the Republic of Ireland leg of his visit to the island.