Description
John F. Kennedy was deeply loved by the Irish people. His assassination in Dallas caused great shock in Ireland. The honour guard at JFK’s funeral on the 25th of November was the 37th Cadet Class of the Irish Army. JFK had been greatly impressed by the Irish Cadets on his visit to Ireland so much so that Jackie Kennedy requested that the Irish Army be the honour guard at the funeral.
Kennedy had a deep love of Ireland and his Irish connections. His Great Grandfather, Patrick Kennedy, lived in Dunganstown, New Ross, County Wexford but emigrated to America during the famine in 1848. On his visit to Dunganstown, Kennedy visited his grandfathers cottage and stated: “This is where it all began...”. Standing in the kitchen of the little thatched cottage, he stood on the stone floor and drank tea and ate homemade scones and butter with his third cousin Mary Kennedy Ryan. When it was time to leave, it was notable that Kennedy was emotional. Kennedy was, and still is, a symbol of the American dream. He had a long lasting affect on the Irish people who saw him pass through their streets in that memorable month of June, 1963. Before departing Shannon airport, Kennedy spoke fondly of Ireland and said “This is not he land the land of my birth, but it is the land for which I hold the greatest affection and I certainly will come back in the springtime”. Unfortunately, due to events in November 1963, this was never to be...
Dimensions: 16” X 10” approx.