On Saturday 29 June 1963, thousands of people converged on Galway City to welcome President John F. Kennedy, ‘one of our own’ as one man later said. It was part of a four-day tour of Ireland during which time he visited Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and of course, his family’s ancestral home in Wexford. His arrival in Ireland was long anticipated and he was jubilantly received by the Irish people.
Special trains were running to Galway to accommodate the crowds. The Saturday market was held on Friday and was believed to be the first time that this happened for a visiting dignitary. Apart from television cameras, fully equipped radio vans were stationed at strategic points around the city. There was also a huge burden on the public telephone system because of demands from the media. There was a direct telephone link established at the Sportsground and Eyre Square with the White House. An information bureau was set up in the Great Southern Hotel (now the Hardiman) for the estimated 150 members of the world-wide press. The day was overcast and unseasonably cold, but this didn’t dampen the spirit of the crowds converging on the city centre from early morning.
Councillor Paddy Ryan, Mayor of Galway, Dr Michael Browne, Bishop of Galway, and other dignitaries gathered in Galway Sportsground, College Road to await the arrival of President Kennedy. At approximately 11.15am, the sound of the helicopters carrying President Kennedy; An Taoiseach, Seán Lemass and his presidential entourage appeared over the city amid great excitement. The first two helicopters landed carrying the White House Press Corps and Officials. The press staff members were led by Mervyn Smith (United Press International), who served four American presidents during his career. Two other helicopters then followed and soon President Kennedy and those accompanying him landed.
President Kennedy was greeted by Mayor Ryan, who introduced him to the bishop and local dignitaries. World War II American ex-service men provided a guard of honour for the president, and he was delighted to meet them. The President made his way to greet a group of 320 school children who were wearing special cassocks forming the Tricolour that was extremely impressive from the air. He shook hands with as many of the children he could reach and then met the teachers. Before leaving he asked them to sing, and they sang Galway Bay. St Patrick’s Band also entertained the president. On his way to the car, he greeted all those around him. Then accompanied by Mayor Ryan and An Taoiseach he took his seat in the car and the triumphal procession began its journey along College Road towards Eyre Square.
There was an unforgettable moment along the way for the mayor and his family. At the entrance to Forster House, the Ryan family home, the mayor’s mother, Catherine Ryan, and his children gathered around floral tributes. President Kennedy stopped the car and went over to the family and greeted them all, including the children. The president also autographed an old American history book for Catherine Ryan. Large enthusiastic crowds lined the route to Eyre Square.
On arrival at Eyre Square the president received a rapturous reception. He passed through two lines of Irish troops forming a guard of honour. President Kennedy then swept aside protocol and security and shook hands with many local people and signed autographs. Upon entering through the Browne Doorway, the city councillors formed another guard of honour in their official robes of office. The mayor then introduced the president to the councillors and other officials. Special gifts were presented to the president and included an 8½ inch long solid silver replica of the Great Mace of Galway. It was mounted on a green Connemara marble base and silver inscription plates recorded a brief history of the original mace. The President was also presented with an Irish linen banquet cloth and a set of table napkins.
There was loud cheering when the president mounted the decorated stage. Reports stated that the tremendous enthusiasm had never been equalled in the city in modern times. After the cheering died down, the Town Clerk, P.J. Watters opened proceedings by reading the proclamation of the Borough Council. The mayor welcomed the president to the city and spoke entirely in Irish during his speech. He explained the links between Ireland and the United States. He mentioned the great exodus from Ireland that began with the Great Famine of 1845-50. He also conferred the Freedom of Galway on President Kennedy. After the conferring ceremony, the President signed the scroll, and it was then placed in a solid silver gilt casket.
President Kennedy then made a public address:
Mr. Mayor, members of the County Council, Prime Minister, Ambassadors:
If the day was clear enough, and if you went down to the bay, and you looked west, and your sight was good enough, you would see Boston, Mass. And if you did, you would see down working on the docks there some Doughertys and Flahertys and Ryans and cousins of yours who have gone to Boston and made good.
I wonder if you could perhaps let me know how many of you here have a relative in America, who you would admit to – if you would hold up your hand? I don’t know what it is about you that causes me to think that nearly everybody in Boston comes from Galway. They are not shy about it, at all.
I want to express – as we are about to leave here – to you of this country how much this visit has meant. It is strange that so many years could pass and so many generations pass and still some of us who came on this trip could come home and – here to Ireland – and feel ourselves at home and not feel ourselves in a strange country, but feel ourselves among neighbours, even though we are separated by generations, by time, and by thousands of miles.
You send us home covered with gifts which we can barely carry, but most of all you send us home with the warmest memories of you and of your country. So, I must say that though other days may not be so bright as we look toward the future, the brightest days will continue to be those in which we visited you here in Ireland. If you ever come to America, come to Washington, and tell them, if they wonder who you are at the gate, that you come from Galway. The word will be out and when you do, it will be “Cead Mile Failte,” which means “one hundred thousand welcomes!” Thank you and goodbye.
(President John F. Kennedy, Eyre Square, Galway, 29 June 1963)
He was also made an Honorary Life Member of the Graduates Association of the National University of Ireland. The vellum certificate was also embellished with the Kennedy Coat of Arms and was displayed on the window of Faller’s Jewellery Shop prior to the presidential visit.
Before leaving Eyre Square, the president was entertained by Irish Dancers from dancing schools across the city. Musicians and singers also performed for the president and included Martin Rabbitte (Violin) and Ruth Bradley (Harp). There was loud cheering, and the president was almost mobbed as he made his way through the Browne Doorway by the enthusiastic crowd who simply swept the Garda ropes aside in a bid to shake his hand.Massive crowds lined the main streets, and a splendid ‘tickertape’ reception met him all the way.The bells of St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church chimed out a special arraignment of ‘The StarSpangled Banner’. Along with thousands of people who lined the streets to Salthill, there were 600 members of An Garda Síochána who took up positions along the route.
Maura and Nora Joyce were among the thousands gathered in Eyre Square that day. The sisters raced back to the fire station knowing that President Kennedy would pass there on his way to Salthill, and they might even get closer to him. They certainly did and got a special wave from the president; Maura remembers that President Kennedy was very handsome.
Salthill was also superbly decorated to welcome the president. As he made his way from the car to the awaiting helicopter, the huge crowd broke through the security cordons and soon President Kennedy was surrounded by hundreds of well-wishers. Again, he attempted to shake hands with as many people as possible before mounting the steps to the helicopter. After the presidential helicopter lifted off it circled Salthill and then flew out over the bay amid the cheers of the thousands of people who had gathered to say goodbye. The helicopter soon disappeared into a cloudy mist amid a last thunderous farewell from the thousands of people gathered in Salthill. A flotilla of fishing trawlers formed a semicircle on Galway Bay spelling out his name ‘Kennedy’. The LE Cliona was also anchored in the bay. Then in quick succession the other helicopters swooped in and picked up the White House Press Corps and Officials. The Gardai had an extremely difficult task in keeping the car park clear to accommodate the helicopters. Visiting pressmen later said that it was the best reception in Ireland.
On Friday, 22 November 1963, John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of America was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza. The assassin was allegedly Lee Harvey Oswald, a former United States Marine. Following the assassination of President Kennedy, the local authorities in Galway decided to modernise Eyre Square and rename it the ‘Kennedy Memorial Park.’ During the redevelopment, the iron railings that had surrounded the park for over a century were removed. This left the Browne Doorway obsolete, standing like a lone sentinel of the past; many people today wonder about its purpose. The park was re-opened in August 1965 by Cardinal Richard Cushing (Pontifical Legate) of Boston. A sculptured bust of President Kennedy by Albert O’Toole was also unveiled in the park. Prior to the presidential visit in June of that year, Albert O’Toole had created a walnut wood carving of Jacqueline Kennedy. When the American Ambassador, Matt McCloskey saw the carving, he said it was a marvellous likeness of the ‘First Lady’. He suggested that it be sent to the American Embassy and from there it would be despatched to ‘First Lady’ as a special gift.
