Credit: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Ireland Commemorates the President's 1963 Visit From JFK50: President Kennedy embodied the ultimate success story of the Irish emigrant family, from famine emigrant to the most powerful man in the world in three generations. More than that, his visit and the inspiring speeches he delivered were to change forever how the Irish perceived themselves, particularly in relation to the emigrant experience and the Diaspora.

#JFK50 Members of the Kennedy family travelled to Ireland to commemorate the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s visit to his ancestral homeland. Saturday’s events culminated in the lighting of an “emigrant flame” in honor of the millions of Irish who left the country during the famine. The town of New Ross held its own celebrations under the banner “JFK 50: The Homecoming.” Patrick Kennedy left New Ross for Boston in 1848 and his great-grandson returned as President of the United States in 1963.

The torch that will carry the Kennedy flame back to Ireland #jfk50 pic.twitter.com/DSSmFkQ9qA — George Hook (@ghook) June 18, 2013

Flame travelled 1st Class, the rest travelled coach by Aer Lingus from New York to New Ross via @wexfordcoco #jfk50 pic.twitter.com/cjIQo9aTiG” — noelwhelan (@noelwhelan) June 20, 2013

Caroline Kennedy delivers a speech at the Kennedy Homestead in Co Wexford as part of the #jfk50 celebrations pic.twitter.com/ddNXN4s4mm — MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) June 22, 2013

Caroline Kennedy, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and Taoiseach Enda Kenny light the emigrant flame in New Ross #JFK50 pic.twitter.com/LlO9sfTkke — RTE News Now (@RTENewsNow) June 22, 2013

How Ireland Shaped America and How America Shaped Ireland

From The National Journal: John F. Kennedy’s visit in 1963, which is still being studied and discussed, changed Ireland, changed Kennedy, and changed the expectations for all future presidential trips to the country that sent so many of its sons and daughters across the sea to America. For Ireland, that trip marked a coming of age. Though it claimed its independence 41 years earlier, Ireland was anything but a routine diplomatic stop. Kennedy wasn’t only the first American leader to visit Ireland. He was the first leader of any significant country to visit Ireland since independence.

Because Kennedy would be traveling as the President, his four day stop in Ireland wasn’t justifiable as state business, and so it was added into a larger tour of Europe. Just before arriving in Ireland, Kennedy had gone to Germany and made his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech at the Berlin Wall. From The National Journal: The payoff for the president personally was huge. “These were the three happiest days I’ve ever spent in my life,” a visibly moved Kennedy told a friend on the final day of the trip.

From JFKhomecoming: Hear JFK’s words spoken through the voices of Ireland today, featuring Sarah Bolger, Mike Feeney Callan, Sharon Corr, Roddy Doyle, Moya Doherty, Jamie Heaslip, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Mark Pollock, Robert Sheehan, Jim Sheridan, Ryan Tubridy and Laura Whitmore.

The Gathering From The Gathering: Throughout 2013, Ireland is opening its arms to hundreds of thousands of friends and family from all over the world, calling them home to gatherings in villages, towns and cities. Over 70 million people worldwide claim Irish ancestry. The Gathering Ireland 2013 provides the perfect excuse to reach out to those who have moved away, their relatives, friends and descendants, and invite them home. The 50th Anniversary of President Kennedy’s visit has been integrated into the Gathering’s events under the title and hash tag JFK50. The town of New Ross will highlight the Kennedy family's history in particular with a series of events called “The Journey,” “The Homecoming,” and “The Remembering.”

Reagan in Ireland