A bronzed JFK comes home to Bruff

Fr Johnny Daly blessing the JFK statue in Bruff under the watchful eye of Michael Fitzgerald. Photo: Brendan Gleeson
Fr Johnny Daly blessing the JFK statue in Bruff under the watchful eye of Michael Fitzgerald. Photo: Brendan Gleeson

A life-sized bronze statue of the 35th US President John F Kennedy, which cost approximately โ‚ฌ40,000, has been unveiled at his ancestral home in Bruff.

The statue, designed by Clare sculptor Sean Connolly, and funded by Limerick City and County Council, was unveiled by Mairead McGuinness, Vice President of the European Parliament.

The sculpture features a bronze bible symbolising the Bible used at Kennedyโ€™s presidential inauguration in January 1961, and which was brought from Bruff to Boston by Kennedyโ€™s great grandfather Thomas Fitzgerald when he emigrated to the US in 1852.

Fitzgeraldโ€™s son John โ€œHoneyfitzโ€ โ€“ JFKโ€™s grandfather โ€“ went on to become the first catholic mayor of Boston.

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The familyโ€™s sacramental details are to be found at the Thomas Fitzgerald Centre, in the town, which was officially opened by JFKโ€™s daughter Caroline, in 2013.

Bruff Community Council chairman Mark Nagle said that JFKโ€™s story was one they had wanted to tell for a while to ensure people were aware that Bruff was his true ancestral home.

โ€œThe statue emphasises the Bible used to swear him in as the US President, which was the same bible brought from Bruff to America by his great grandfather.โ€

Mr Nagle said Bruff was โ€œproudโ€ to celebrate โ€œthe greatest emigrant success story everโ€.

โ€œPresident Kennedy came from two generations of poverty and went on to lead one of the worldโ€™s most powerful political dynasties. Itโ€™s a story that continues to endure.โ€

โ€œIt is also, maybe, fitting and important to keep in mind the importance of the contribution of emigrants, especially in these times,โ€ Mr Nagle added.

by David Raleigh

news@limerickpost