Kennedy Summer School 2013 Officially Launched
The 2013 Kennedy Summer School officially opened this morning in New Ross, Co. Wexford. The three day festival of Irish and American politics, history and culture will run from today until this Saturday, the 14th September. Cousins, Ted Kennedy Junior, son of Senator Edward Kennedy and Rory Kennedy, daughter of Senator Bobby Kennedy, were on hand to help open the festival to the public.
The Kennedy Summer School features presentations, talks, music performances and films and will be attended by key figures from Irish / American political and cultural circles. It marks one of the final celebrations of the 50th anniversary of John F Kennedy’s iconic visit to New Ross.
Run in association with the JFK Trust in New Ross, the three day event will highlight the strength of political, historical and cultural links between Ireland and America through a series of presentations and discussions. The festival will recap on what has been a phenomenal year of celebration for the town and its residents.
Prominent Irish and American participants confirmed for the Kennedy Summer School include, George Hook; former Minister Mary O’Rourke; John O’Regan, RTE Producer; Leo Enright, Space Commentator; Larry Donnelly, Boston Lawyer & NUI Galway Law Lecturer; David Harvey, Broadcaster & Documentary Film Maker; Michael Taft, Union Official; Peter Cassells, Executive Director of the Edward M Kennedy institute for Conflict Intervention ; historian Richard Aldous; scholar Brian Murphy; journalist and business women Margaret E. Ward; businessman Barry O’Leary; Minister Richard Bruton; politician Micheál Martin TD; Senator Katherine Zappone; Professor Dr. Jane Suiter; broadcaster and former politician Nora Owen and professional genealogist; R.Andrew Pierce.
The Summer School attracts guests and members of the public from across Ireland and the US, with an interest in Irish American links. One very notable event is the “The Edward M Kennedy Lecture”. This lecture, in association with the Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention NUI Maynooth, will be held in St Michaels Theatre on Friday, 13th September with a special address by Ted Kennedy Jnr.
Guests interested in politics will not want to miss the discussion on “Reforming Irish Politics”, which will debate on Local Government and Seanad Éireann by Minister Richard Bruton TD, Micheál Martin TD, Pearse Doh
erty TD, Senator Katherine Zappone, David Davin Power and Dr Jane Suiter.
One of the highlights of the festival is the Irish premier screening of the five times Emmy nominated documentary film called ETHEL, which highlights the remarkable life of Ethel Kennedy. Directed by her Emmy Award-winning daughter Rory Kennedy, the film is a personal portrait of Ethel’s political awakening, the life she shared with Bobby Kennedy, and the years following his death when she raised their 11 children on her own.
Intimate, funny, and deeply moving, ETHEL offers a rare look inside a political dynasty strengthened by family bonds, a compassion for others, and a wisdom forged from both hardship and triumph. Guests attending the screening will be treated to a Hennessy Fine de Cognac reception on arrival and the screening will be followed by an interview with Rory Kennedy and the film writer, Mark Bailey.
The Kennedy Summer School will build on the special links between New Ross and John F. Kennedy and the extended Kennedy family. President Kennedy’s great grandfather was born in nearby Dunganstown, and the President visited this homestead in 1963. His tour on that occasion also included an historic public address at New Ross quayside. The new Visitor Centre at the Kennedy Homestead, Dunganstown was opened by Caroline Kennedy, daughter of JFK, in June this year as part of the JFK 50th anniversary celebrations.
Tickets to events are limited and are on sale from www.kennedysummerschool.ie. Information on a range of accommodation options is also available from the website.
Supported by American Airlines, Coca Cola, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Brandon House Hotel, Monart, Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention at NUI Maynooth; and Circle Films, The Kennedy Summer School has a mixture of events to suit all interests from space and science to politics, history and even the Irish Mafia in the US. Each event is a showcase of the Irish American experience.
