JFK50 NEW ROSS, PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY - THE HOMECOMING

FRIDAY 21ST JUNE - SATURDAY 22ND JUNE

As I crossed the bridge to New Ross from Waterford on the morning of Friday 21^st June to attend a radio broadcast I was pleasantly surprised by the view.   The newly developed quayside incorporated a boardwalk and civic area and the quayside buildings looked spruce and freshly painted.  A  large banner advertising  'The Homecoming' stretched across one of the old mill buildings with a photograph of a smiling President John F. Kennedy waving at a crowd of cheering people and his quotation ‘I want to express my pleasure at being back from whence I came…’ emblazoned across it.

DOUGLAS KENNEDY ( YOUNGEST SON OF BOBBY KENNEDY) TAKES TIME TO VIEW PHOTOS BY A LOCAL MAN ON HIS ARRIVAL IN NEW ROSS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON

The ‘Today' radio show  travelled from Dublin to broadcast from St. Michael’s Theatre, New Ross.  Myles Dungan was host for the morning as Pat Kenny was on annual leave.   The first row of the audience was filled with local people who shared their recollections and memories of the 1963 Presidential visit.  Each person recounted their experience as if it was yesterday.  I was not around for the original visit in 1963 so this was a wonderful insight into the excitement and anticipation of children and young adults 50 years ago when Ireland was a different place.  As writer Colm Toibin observed Ireland was in black and white before President John F. Kennedy arrived and afterwards everything was in Technicolour.  

              PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY'S NIECE KATHLEEN KENNEDY TOWNSEND

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend gave an interesting insight to the Kennedy family ethos.   Myles alluded to the fact that she came from a privileged background and maybe this was the reason many members of the Kennedy family were involved in public service.  Kathleen agreed they were taught because of their privileged upbringing they had a duty to give back to society.   I was taken aback when Myles asked her about the ‘curse of the Kennedys’.  Kathleen wasn’t fazed and explained that as far back as she could remember death seemed to be a fact of life in the Kennedy family.  Her uncles and aunt were killed and then her father.    She explained people deal with adversity every day around the world and it is how one moves forward in a positive way is the most important thing.   A panel including historian Diarmaid Ferriter and Dr. Pat Wallace discussed the Kennedy legacy. Music was provided by Ronan Tynan who sang ‘Will ye go lassie go’ and members of the American Spiritual Ensemble sang classical renditions of American spiritual songs.

RONAN TYNAN SINGS 'WILL YE GO LASSIE GO' IN ST. MICHAEL'S THEATRE, NEW ROSS

THE AMERICAN SPIRITUAL ENSEMBLE SING IN ST. MICHAEL'S THEATRE, NEW ROSS








Kathleen Kennedy Townsend was in St. Michael’s Theatre again Friday evening for a media Q and A with six other family members who had just arrived in New Ross.  Her youngest brother Douglas joined her as did four of the youngest generation of the Kennedy clan, Cris, Max and Kiley.  Ted Junior’s wife KiKi also attended.   It was interesting to hear the younger Kennedys views on various topics presented by journalists. 

PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S GRAND-NIECE KILEY SPEAKING IN ST.MICHAEL'S THEATRE

Saturday afternoon throngs of people packed New Ross to view an American style parade weave its way from Irishtown to the Quay.  The main event of ‘The Homecoming’ commemoration took place at 6pm on the New Ross quay-front on a purpose built stage. The Kennedy family and the Taoiseach enjoyed an eclectic concert hosted by Anne Doyle and George Hook.  American Grammy award winning singer and songwriter Judy Collins, who performed for both Presidents Kennedy and Clinton at the Whitehouse, sang a couple of songs including her hit ‘Both Sides Now’.  The American Spiritual Ensemble sang some dynamic harmonies.  Extreme Rhythm, a group of unique percussionists from Wexford performed with energy and vigour.  Colm Toibin and Michael Flately made contributions and New Ross and District Pipe Band played a rousing set. 

 

         THE HOMECOMING PARADE WEAVES ITS WAY THROUGH NEW ROSS    After the concert it was time to light the Emigrant Flame. The flame was delivered to the quayside by the Irish Naval vessel LE Orla.  The flame came directly from John F.Kennedy’s graveside in Arlington, instilling inspiration and reminding us of all the emigrants who left our shores to find a better future.

CAROLINE KENNEDY AND HER SON JACK SCHLOSSBERG IN CONVERSATION WITH TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY AND JEAN KENNEDY SMITH PRIOR TO  THE  FLAME LIGHTING CEREMONY

John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, was introduced by his mother Caroline and he delivered a brief speech before the lighting of the flame.  A trio of Caroline Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith and Taoiseach Enda Kenny lit the flame.  The final military element of ‘The Homecoming’ celebration was a spectacular flypast by the Air Corps.  What an amazing boost this occasion has given New Ross and Ireland in a time of hardship and recession.  Many television stations from around the world covered the event.   My next trip to New Ross will be to the Kennedy homestead in Dunganstown where a new visitor’s centre was opened by Caroline Kennedy during her visit.   

AIR CORPS FLY PAST 'THE DUNBRODY' IN NEW ROSS TO MARK THE OFFICIAL LIGHTING OF THE EMIGRANT FLAME IN NEW ROSS, CO. WEXFORD