This still from a film shows President Kennedy waving to the crowds in New Ross, County Wexford
By Irish Echo Staff
Never before seen film footage of President Kennedy's June, 1963 visit to Ireland is to be donated to New Ross Library "Kennedy Book and Research Archive" at the upcoming 2021 Kennedy Summer School
The film is a 20-minute long color record of the visit by JFK to the County Wexford town.
The Kennedy Book and Research Archive was launched at New Ross Library by the Kennedy Summer in association with Wexford County Council in 2017 on the 100th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s birth.
The collection contains items of unique interest, including a number of books written by John F. Kennedy before taking up political office, LIFE magazine from the 1960s, and other contemporary publications as well as The New Ross Standard from June of 1963.
The Kennedy family traces their roots back to Dunganstown in County Wexford from where Patrick Kennedy, JFK's great-grandfather, left Ireland during the Great Famine in 1848.
According to a release, the Kennedy Book and Research Archive is this year delighted to accept the Movie collection of Mrs. Peggy Walsh, Hoodsgrove, Rosbercon, New Ross.
Speaking of the movie, chair of the Summer School Willie Keilthy said: “Today we are privileged to have so many formats for collecting local historic and social events instantly on our smartphones. Back in the late 1950s and 1960s collecting such footage was limited to the standard film camera or the super 8 movie camera with sometimes waiting weeks to have them developed, and then only available to a few.
"Fortunately, Peggy Walsh, now 98 years old, was a keen photographer and videographer and back in the day made lots of short movies capturing the most important events of the day in New Ross including the visit of President Kennedy to the town, the last days of the New Ross Dublin Train Service, play at New Ross Golf Club and many others.
"It is certain that this important local collection will serve to relate the social history of the town and surrounding district. We would like to thank Ann Larkin daughter of Peggy Walsh for providing this collection to the archive.”
According to the release, "the poignant footage will be showcased to the public for the first time at an outdoor screening event hosted by New Ross Library at the New Ross Library Park on September 2nd, 2021 at 5.30 p.m. This event takes place as part of the annual Kennedy Summer School which will be hosted in New Ross from September 2 to 4 with some events also available online.
Added the release: "There is a stellar lineup of guest speakers for the annual festival of Irish and American history, culture, and politics. More than 30 guest speakers will participate in debates on a wide range of subjects, the main focus will be placed on topical issues in Irish and U.S. politics with leading expert speakers from both sides of the Atlantic plus key discussions on Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol will take place along with the impact of Covid-19. Prof. Luke O’Neill, Mick Mulvaney, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle , Tommie Gorman, Donie O’ Sullivan CNN, Minister Darragh O’Brien, Alliance Party MP Stephen Farry are just some of the guest speakers taking part."
The Kennedy Summer School and Festival is run in association with New Ross Municipal District, Wexford County Council, and Boston College. The Kennedy Summer School Directors include Willie Keilthy, Larry Donnelly, Dr. Brian Murphy, Sinead McSweeney, Eileen Dunne, Eamonn Hore, and Dr. Bob Mauro.
"The event will be held in accordance with all public health guidelines therefore a limited number of tickets to the 2021 Summer School will be released for sale in early August online via kennedysummerschool.ie – visitors to the website can currently sign up to an email notification and they will be informed via email with the date and time of the ticket release."
