"WE WON'T COME BACK MORE THAN EVERY 10 YEARS"

KENNEDY TREATED TO TEA BY THIRD COUSIN IN IRELAND

Dunganstown, Ireland (JFK+50) On June 27, 1963, President John F. Kennedy "returned to the homestead of his Irish forefathers...and drank tea in the barnyard with cousins and their neighbors."

Thomas Reedy writes that Mary Ann Ryan, JFK's third cousin, "laid long tables for tea, cakes and pies to serve Cousin Jack."

The barnyard in which the tea was served is adjacent to the cottage in which Patrick Kennedy*, JFK's great grandfather, left when he came to America 120 years ago.

The President thanked Mrs. Ryan and "all the Kennedys who stayed..." He said, 

"I promise we won't come back oftener than every ten years."

Later, in a speech at the port town of New Ross, JFK said...

"When my great-grandfather left here to become a cooper in East Boston, he carried nothing with him except two things--a strong religious faith and a strong desire for liberty.  I am glad to say that all of his grandchildren have valued that inheritance."

JFK+50

Ironically, Patrick Kennedy died on NOVEMBER 22 (1858), 105 years before the death of his great grandson NOVEMBER 22 (1963).  My own grandfather, Harris E. White, died on NOVEMBER 22 (1990).

*Patrick Kennedy (1823-1858) was born in Dunganstown, Ireland & became a farmer & cooper.  PK was forced to move to America by the Irish famine.  He arrived in Boston in 1848.

SOURCES

"Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2011

"Kennedy Welcomed By Irish Relatives," by Thomas A. Reedy, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 27, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

The Original Kennedy House

Dunganstown, Ireland

Photo by Kenneth Allen

www.geograph.ie

Creative Commons Licence

THE LAST TIME JFK WOULD EVER SEE HOME

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1993

PRESIDENT KENNEDY VISITED IRELAND 53 YEARS AGO TODAY

Dublin, Ireland (JFK+50) John F. Kennedy, the first Irish-American President of the United States, landed here in Dublin fifty-three years ago last evening, June 26, 1963, becoming the first American president to visit the country during his term of office.

The President was greeted by Eamon de Valera, President of Ireland, and welcomed by Irish children waving American flags and singing his favorite Irish tunes.

Ryan Tubridy writes...

"The two Presidents made their way...for the brief journey from Dublin airport across the city to Phoenix Park, home of both the Irish President and the American Ambassador to Ireland.

The crowds were enormous and excited.  On...O'Connell Street, between 60,000 and 80,000 people showed up to welcome the President."

On the morning of June 27, President Kennedy visited Wexford and New Ross.
In his speech on the Quay, JFK said...

"When my great grandfather left here to become a cooper in East Boston, he carried nothing with him except two things:  a strong religious faith and a strong desire for liberty.  I am glad to say that all of his great grandchildren have valued that inheritance." 

The President then made a short drive to Dunganstown to visit the farm once owned by his great great grandfather, Patrick Kennedy.  JFK was greeted by his hostess and third cousin, Mary Ryan, who was accompanied by about 25 relatives.

After the visit, President Kennedy "...kissed his cousin on the check, patted her clasped hands and said goodbye.  It was the last time he would ever see her; the last time he would ever see home."

 SOURCES

"JFK In Ireland, Four Days That Changed a President," by Ryan Tubridy, Lyons Press, Guilford, Connecticut, 2011.

"One of Ourselves: JFK in Ireland" by James Robert Carroll, Images from the Past, Inc., Bennington, Vermont, 2003.

JFK Greets Irish School Children

JFK Library Photo

                     

JOHNNY, I HARDLY KNEW YE VII

July 20, 2012

"JOHNNY, I HARDLY KNEW YE" VII

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we continue our report of Chapter 12 of the book by Kenneth P. O'Donnell & David F. Powers with Joe McCarthy.  It is published by Little, Brown & Company.

The title of Chapter 12 is "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye"


Kenneth O'Donnell tells a funny story about his advance visit to IRELAND with Pierre Salinger a month before JFK visited.


It seems that there was a KENNEDY family argument at Dunganstown "about which relatives should be invited" to the party honoring JFK.


The cottage matriarch, MARY RYAN, pointed her finger at one man & said:


"You haven't shown your face at this door in 20 years, & now you're horning in because President Kennedy is coming."

Kenny tells us that he turned & asked the fellow his name, he answered:
"JOHN KENNEDY."