Robert Francis Kennedy – a son of Ireland
The death by assassination of Robert Francis Kennedy 40 years ago this year shocked the world. It was all the more shocking for his brother President John Fitzgerald Kennedy had died by an assassin’s bullet just five years previously.
Robert Kennedy was born to Rose Kennedy and Joseph P. Kennedy, the seventh of nine children on the 25th November 1925, in Brookline, Massachusetts. Having attended a number of schools in his early education, Kennedy was attending Harvard University when he put his education on hold to join the U.S. Navy during World War II, much of which was in the V-12 Navy College Training Programme, at Harvard College Cambridge Massachusetts. After the war he went back to finish his degree course and was later to obtain a law degree from the University of Virginia. He came to public notice when in the 1950’s as council to the U.S. Senate Committee investigating the Unions that had him lock horns with Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa. He managed his brother John’s campaigns for the U.S. Senate throughout the fifties that culminated in 1960 in John’s election to the highest office in the land – that of President of the United States of America. Robert was rewarded for his good work by being appointed Attorney General. There is no doubt but he acquitted himself well in the post of Attorney General and served for some short time in the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson who succeeded to the Presidency on the death of JFK in 1963. He served as Attorney General from January 1961 to the 3rd September 1964. Robert went on to be elected Senator for New York and it was from this position he declared his candidacy for the United States Presidency in early 1968. On the 5th June 1968, having won the California primary and having delivered a speech to his supporters he was shot by Sirhan Sirhan, at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. Robert Francis Kennedy’s shocking and untimely death was announced to the world on the 6th June 1968; he had served as Senator from the 3rd January 1965 to his death on the 6th June 1968.
The Kennedy’s have their roots in Dunganstown, New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland. There is an Arboretum established here where many rare trees flourish in the moist warm climate of the south east of Ireland; it is named in honour of President Kennedy. This year (2008) a new somewhat larger than life-size bronze statue in the image of the late president was unveiled to commemorate his visit to New Ross in 1963. On the occasion of his visit President Kennedy had tea with distant cousins in the old ancestral home just months before his assassination in Dallas, Texas. It was a matter of great pride then to have represented by special request a party of Cadets from the Irish Defence Forces forming part of the Guard of Honour at his burial.
On the maternal side of the Kennedy clan are the Fitzgerald’s who come from around Loch Gur, Bruff, Co. Limerick, Ireland.
Loch Gur (Picture Right: P.C. Fitzgerald) is known to be one of the oldest inhabited places in Ireland with artefacts recovered from the Loch (lake) dating back 5,000 or more years. If you want to experience a piece of ancient Ireland you will find here the largest stone circle in Ireland; a megalithic tomb and much, much, more. Stand by the post-holes of the very earliest dwellings that command a rise of ground overlooking the lake as the sun sets on a fine autumn evening, with only the water fowl for company; there you will find enchantment, for you can be certain it has been done for 5,000 years before your arrival. When Thomas Fitzgerald (Born Bruff, 1823) set off from here for the new world around the time of ‘the great hunger’ of the 19th century; counted among his little possessions was the family bible. It was on this bible that John Fitzgerald Kennedy was sworn in as 35th President of the United States of America: it is now housed in the Kennedy Museum in Boston. A son John Francis Fitzgerald was born to the above Thomas on the 11 February 1863. He became known as John Honey Fitz. He served two terms as mayor of Boston and a member of the U.S. Congress. He was the father of Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald. Rose was to marry Joseph Kennedy and they had nine children; two of the most famous; President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the latter being our subject for the purpose of this short recollection, - it being forty years on from his assassination.
In close proximity to Loch Gur and in a very rural backwater is a much used and cherished community hall; as you approach the building a large sign in bold lettering proclaims: “The Honey Fitz.” One would have to wonder if the seldom passer-by is aware of the significance of the proclamation for it was from here – this rural County Limerick landscape that Thomas Fitzgerald set out for the new world. He was not to know that he was distained to be the progenitor of the most powerful leader under the sun. Yes! It was from this ‘bible-toting’ son of Bruff in his escape from starvation and poverty and his quest for a new beginning in America that br
ought about the first Catholic President of the United States of America. President Kennedy himself said in his speech on the quay at New Ross “When my great (paternal) 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...” As we have seen, the same sentiments might be expressed about his maternal great grandfather Thomas Fitzgerald.
My photograph right (Danny Quain 1985) shows the grave of President Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery Virginia. It is impressive with its “eternal flame” burning brightly. Radiating out from this cylindrical bowl is a chequer-board of miniature plantings that is so carefully tended to be immaculately orderly. Around its perimeter a discreet barrier keep the throngs of inquisitive pilgrims from trespassing.
The death by assassination of Robert Francis Kennedy 40 years ago this year shocked the world. It was all the more shocking for his brother President John Fitzgerald Kennedy had died by an assassin’s bullet just five years previously.
Robert Kennedy was born to Rose Kennedy and Joseph P. Kennedy, the seventh of nine children on the 25th November 1925, in Brookline, Massachusetts. Having attended a number of schools in his early education, Kennedy was attending Harvard University when he put his education on hold to join the U.S. Navy during World War II, much of which was in the V-12 Navy College Training Programme, at Harvard College Cambridge Massachusetts. After the war he went back to finish his degree course and was later to obtain a law degree from the University of Virginia. He came to public notice when in the 1950’s as council to the U.S. Senate Committee investigating the Unions that had him lock horns with Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa. He managed his brother John’s campaigns for the U.S. Senate throughout the fifties that culminated in 1960 in John’s election to the highest office in the land – that of President of the United States of America. Robert was rewarded for his good work by being appointed Attorney General. There is no doubt but he acquitted himself well in the post of Attorney General and served for some short time in the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson who succeeded to the Presidency on the death of JFK in 1963. He served as Attorney General from January 1961 to the 3rd September 1964. Robert went on to be elected Senator for New York and it was from this position he declared his candidacy for the United States Presidency in early 1968. On the 5th June 1968, having won the California primary and having delivered a speech to his supporters he was shot by Sirhan Sirhan, at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. Robert Francis Kennedy’s shocking and untimely death was announced to the world on the 6th June 1968; he had served as Senator from the 3rd January 1965 to his death on the 6th June 1968.
The Kennedy’s have their roots in Dunganstown, New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland. There is an Arboretum established here where many rare trees flourish in the moist warm climate of the south east of Ireland; it is named in honour of President Kennedy. This year (2008) a new somewhat larger than life-size bronze statue in the image of the late president was unveiled to commemorate his visit to New Ross in 1963. On the occasion of his visit President Kennedy had tea with distant cousins in the old ancestral home just months before his assassination in Dallas, Texas. It was a matter of great pride then to have represented by special request a party of Cadets from the Irish Defence Forces forming part of the Guard of Honour at his burial.
On the maternal side of the Kennedy clan are the Fitzgerald’s who come from around Loch Gur, Bruff, Co. Limerick, Ireland.
Loch Gur (Picture Right: P.C. Fitzgerald) is known to be one of the oldest inhabited places in Ireland with artefacts recovered from the Loch (lake) dating back 5,000 or more years. If you want to experience a piece of ancient Ireland you will find here the largest stone circle in Ireland; a megalithic tomb and much, much, more. Stand by the post-holes of the very earliest dwellings that command a rise of ground overlooking the lake as the sun sets on a fine autumn evening, with only the water fowl for company; there you will find enchantment, for you can be certain it has been done for 5,000 years before your arrival. When Thomas Fitzgerald (Born Bruff, 1823) set off from here for the new world around the time of ‘the great hunger’ of the 19th century; counted among his little possessions was the family bible. It was on this bible that John Fitzgerald Kennedy was sworn in as 35th President of the United States of America: it is now housed in the Kennedy Museum in Boston. A son John Francis Fitzgerald was born to the above Thomas on the 11 February 1863. He became known as John Honey Fitz. He served two terms as mayor of Boston and a member of the U.S. Congress. He was the father of Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald. Rose was to marry Joseph Kennedy and they had nine children; two of the most famous; President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the latter being our subject for the purpose of this short recollection, - it being forty years on from his assassination.
In close proximity to Loch Gur and in a very rural backwater is a much used and cherished community hall; as you approach the building a large sign in bold lettering proclaims: “The Honey Fitz.” One would have to wonder if the seldom passer-by is aware of the significance of the proclamation for it was from here – this rural County Limerick landscape that Thomas Fitzgerald set out for the new world. He was not to know that he was distained to be the progenitor of the most powerful leader under the sun. Yes! It was from this ‘bible-toting’ son of Bruff in his escape from starvation and poverty and his quest for a new beginning in America that br
ought about the first Catholic President of the United States of America. President Kennedy himself said in his speech on the quay at New Ross “When my great (paternal) 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...” As we have seen, the same sentiments might be expressed about his maternal great grandfather Thomas Fitzgerald.My photograph right (Danny Quain 1985) shows the grave of President Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery Virginia. It is impressive with its “eternal flame” burning brightly. Radiating out from this cylindrical bowl is a chequer-board of miniature plantings that is so carefully tended to be immaculately orderly. Around its perimeter a discreet barrier keep the throngs of inquisitive pilgrims from trespassing.
Close by and in sharp contrast is the grave of Robert Kennedy, (Photograph, by Danny Quain taken in 1985) shows a solitary figure (known to me) beside a small white cross. When so often our impression of all things American is flamboyance, and an ‘out of this world’ experience to the point of vulgarity; what we see here is simplicity in the extreme. The little snow white cross, this simple marker standing alone in a sea of green that stretches out into the distance, is something that stops you in your tracks the moment you see it; it is a marker of some significance – and for all of that it is a thing of beauty. Here in what we are told was a very rare night-time burial lie the mortal remains of Senator Robert Francis Kennedy – a son of Ireland – Mac na hÉireann.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm.
This is Danny’s Quaint Ireland and it is Cóipcheart © Copyright and may not be used in any form, whole, or in part, without my express permission: Danny Quain, Cois Má, 2008.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm.
This is Danny’s Quaint Ireland and it is Cóipcheart © Copyright and may not be used in any form, whole, or in part, without my express permission: Danny Quain, Cois Má, 2008.
