These events will explore the Irish emigration experience from post-Famine times to the present day, addressing themes of identity, heritage, the Irish diaspora and Irish-American history, while also celebrating rural Ireland. The weekend gathering is particularly timely, coinciding with the politically charged atmosphere just days before the US presidential election on 5 November.
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy and her Bruff roots
Born in Boston in 1890, Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy lived to the remarkable age of 104, passing away in 1995. Her heritage is firmly rooted in the Bruff area, as three of her four grandparents were from the locality and emigrated to Boston in the mid-19th century as part of the mass exodus brought about by the Famine.
They were Mary Ann Fitzgerald from Palatine Road in Bruff and her husband, Michael Hannon, from nearby Lough Gur, as well as Thomas Fitzgerald, a first cousin and neighbour of Mary Ann’s. Thomas married Rosanna Cox, also of Irish descent and their son, John Francis Fitzgerald (aka “Honey Fitz”), became a prominent figure in Boston politics, serving as mayor and as a member of the US Congress. He made two visits to Limerick, during which he met relatives in Lough Gur.
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Honey Fitz married his second cousin, Mary Josephine Hannon, the daughter of Michael Hannon and Mary Ann Fitzgerald. And their first-born daughter was Rose.
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The Kennedy family’s ties to Bruff run deep, even extending to the Bible used during John F. Kennedy’s presidential inauguration, which was brought to the US from Bruff by Thomas Fitzgerald (JFK’s great-grandfather). In June 1963, just five months before his assassination, President Kennedy visited Limerick city during his tour of Ireland and was granted the freedom of the city.
The Thomas Fitzgerald Centre in Bruff features an exhibition showcasing President Kennedy’s 1963 visit to Ireland, his daughter Caroline Kennedy’s visit to Bruff in 2013 and a collection of photographs of the Fitzgerald-Kennedy family. Outside the centre stands a life-size bronze statue of JFK.
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Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School 2024 events
The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School features an impressive line-up of speakers and discussion panels. A key focus will be on Irish emigration and the diaspora experience, examining how Irish emigrants fared in the US.
Dr Susan Halvey, a lecturer at the Technological University of the Shannon, will share insights into the remarkable story of Charlotte Grace O’Brien (1845–1909), a Limerick-born author, philanthropist and social reformer dedicated to protecting female emigrants. Professor Sean Connolly from Queen’s University Belfast will draw from his book On Every Tide, which reassesses the Irish diaspora by exploring the forces that compelled millions to emigrate and their subsequent transformation from a despised underclass to influential figures in politics, the labour movement and culture.
Other panels will include political scholars and journalists discussing contemporary issues, such as the upcoming US election and the challenges social media poses to journalism.
The weekend will also feature a special screening of a 1973 RTÉ Radharc interview with Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, followed by a discussion led by Dr Pat Wallace, former director of the National Museum of Ireland, with Fitzgerald family members Christina Fitzgerald and Eileen McMahon. Founded in 1959 by a small group of Dublin priests led by Fr Joe Dunn and Fr Desmond Forristal, Radharc Films is regarded as Ireland’s first independent documentary company. The team produced over 400 documentaries between 1961 and 1996.
This weekend will also see performances by Bruff’s Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, an art exhibition at the Lough Gur Visitor Centre and a parade featuring the City of Limerick Marching Band and vintage vehicles, including a car used during President Kennedy’s 1963 visit to Ireland.
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The autumn school, founded by local community members to honour the Fitzgerald-Kennedy legacy, provides an opportunity to reflect on the complex themes of emigration, identity and national heritage. This weekend promises a dynamic exchange of ideas, tracing the echoes of Bruff’s past in the context of contemporary Ireland and the Irish-American experience.
