January 20, 2021: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington, DC.Getty Images
The eyes of the world were on Washington, DC on January 20 for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s inauguration.
However, it was Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders who spurred a meme that has since gone viral around the world, including Ireland.
Sanders, who himself was in the running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, was photographed at the inauguration looking relatively unimpressed and donning a heavy winter coat and knitted mittens.
The picture of Senator Sanders, originally captured by photographer Brendan Smialowski of the Associated Foreign Press, has since given way to countless memes:
The photo that launched a thousand memes today was taken by AFP's Brendan Smialowski. His wonderful Instagram here: https://t.co/0NTXZCujLV pic.twitter.com/zs9Sg2qfaJ
— Barry Malone (@malonebarry) January 21, 2021O
Of course, it didn't take long for people in Ireland to give the newly viral Bernie Sanders meme the Irish treatment. Check out a few of our favorites here:
Hope you had a smooth flight, Senator Sanders!
Sure you’d have to. #berniesmittens #BernieSanders pic.twitter.com/8Bl0MQLjhI
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) January 21, 2021
Bernie was spotted at the famous Grogan's Castle Lounge pub in Dublin:
We knew we recognised this guy at the Inauguration from somewhere🤔 https://t.co/GEbMH8fx1p
— Grogans Castle Lounge (@GrogansPub) January 21, 2021
Across town, Sanders was then spotted outside the historic Jameson Distillery:
Berning time until the Jameson Distillery reopens like...#Bernie pic.twitter.com/0ngWbK7KEM
— Jameson Whiskey (@jamesonwhiskey) January 21, 2021
Eager Bernie couldn't wait to check out Hook Lighthouse in Co Wexford:
Our number 1 fan.
— Hook Lighthouse (@hooklighthouse) January 21, 2021
First in line for when we get to re-open 🙌#BernieSanders#HookLighthouse #berniesmittens #Ireland pic.twitter.com/mq2ly7N1lH
A busy man, Senator Sanders even got to travel back in time to 1890s Gweedore!
Bringing #Ireland's History to Life. 🇮🇪🇺🇸
— Rob Cross (@RobCross247) January 21, 2021
My restored and colourised c1890s photo of Gweedore, Co. Donegal featuring Bernie Sanders.😉#BernieSanders pic.twitter.com/0WCcyOs3eq
Bernie Sanders? Just one of the Derry Girls.
Bernie Sanders is a Derry Girl from here on out. pic.twitter.com/cnVQCzr9FP
— Rachel✨ (@derrygirls101) January 21, 2021
No visit to Ireland is complete without experiencing Co Galway:
Classic photo op for Bernie 🙄😂 Shame he had to miss the inauguration!!
If only he had used https://t.co/muGnH79D57 to plan his trip to Galway, he would have discovered all the hidden gems the county had to offer 👌💎
🖼🎨 by Sesh Gilligan pic.twitter.com/otXzwunMCw
— This is Galway (@ThisIsGalway) January 21, 2021
He graced the midlands - Co Offaly, to be exact - with a visit:
Bernie Saunders getting away from it all by taking in the sights of Co Offaly in Ireland. 😀😀 #BernieSanders pic.twitter.com/Pu2FzBxo5I
— Paul Moore (@Mooro1) January 22, 2021
He even made it up to Co Monaghan:
I see Bernie Sanders is 'cropping' up all over the place! Seems he was in both Carrickmacross and Castleblayney too! @MonaghanCoCo @artsinmonaghan @museum_county @MonaghanCounty @MonaghanTourism @EamonnOSulliva8 pic.twitter.com/aBmIix87az
— Mayor O’Monaghan (@colmcarthy) January 21, 2021
The longtime Vermont Senator paid a visit to the People's Republic of Cork:
bernie's big cork day out pic.twitter.com/FLBAjRDtrA
— kelly // gadget and the cloud ⛅️ (@gadgetatc) January 21, 2021
Then he popped over to Co Kerry to visit the world-famous Great Blasket Island:
Someone has created a site where you can enter any Google address and put Bernie Sanders sitting there. I obviously put in the Great Blasket and it has brought me a lot of joy. https://t.co/gJLku2Xepv pic.twitter.com/pxEewzvub5
— Lesley (@island_lesley) January 21, 2021
However, it appears it wasn't all fun and games for Senator Sanders in Ireland - at least not when the cows are calving!
Waiting for the cows to calve like... pic.twitter.com/zD3P9kZQUm
— AgriLand (@AgrilandIreland) January 21, 2021
Slán abhaile, Senator Sanders.