Commemoration at JFK memorial to celebrate Presidents Day
The friends of the White House Historical Association (WHHA) in Ireland organized a commemoration ceremony at the John F Kennedy memorial in Eyre Square on Friday in honor of President’s Day in the US.
The first Irish president
“JFK … was one of the most Irish US presidents that the US has ever had and we want to celebrate this connection and the love for Ireland that he had,” said co-chair of WHHA Darragh Bohan in his speech at the event.
Mr Bohan spoke about the deceased President’s Irish ancestry, highlighting that JFK was America’s first Irish-catholic president. JFK’s ancestors were from the rural County Limerick village of Bruff.
JFK in Galway
In 1963, JFK visited Galway and was awarded the ‘Freedom of the City’.
“It is special to me to be here since my grandfather was the president of Ireland at the time Kennedy came to Ireland. Both of my grandparents spent time with him,” said Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail TD for Galway West.
For TD Cuív, attending Friday’s ceremony felt like a family duty.
Several other politicians attended the event, including Galway Mayor Eddie Hoare.
Mayor Hoare spoke at the event, celebrating the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the US and Ireland. He also placed a wreath under the memorial in Eyre Square in remembrance of JFK and “the person he was.”
“Kennedy will always be [in] the hearts of people in Galway, you know,” said Senator Gerard P. Craughwell.
“All the speeches he gave, all the things he said at that time will be really valuable in the world where we live today so I think it is very important to bring him to the young generation’s attention,” added TD Cuív.
White House Historical Association
WHHA was founded in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. The JFK commemoration was its first event of the year in honor of Presidents day.
This US federal holiday – observed on the third Monday in February each year – honors the country’s presidents.
The WHHA does not have any other event planned at the moment but representatives at the commemoration said the association is preparing an event for June.
