Is Joe Biden Irish? A Look at the President's Ancestry on St. Patrick's Day On 3/17/21 at 9:50 AM EDT President Joe Biden is known to be proud of his Irish roots, so we take a look at his ancestral connection to the country as it celebrates St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick's Day is held annually on March 17 — the date the patron saint of Ireland is said to have died in the fifth century. Biden has often spoken about his Irish heritage and quotes poet Seamus Heaney in his speeches, including a verse from "The Cure at Troy" during his Democratic nomination acceptance speech.