Skip to content
 Limerick's Life
Menu
  • Search
  • About
  • Contact
  • Buy Me A Coffee
Menu

Mayor Frances Condell’s welcome to John F Kennedy 1963

Posted on May 12, 2014February 13, 2025 by Sharon Slater

kennedyIn late June 1963 American President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963) visited Ireland, the home of his ancestors. On 29 June 1963, Kennedy arrived from Galway to Greenpark Racecourse on the outskirts of Limerick, on his last stop before leaving Ireland at Shannon.

Although Limerick had not originally been on the itinerary, Mayor Frances Condell (1916-1986) had campaigned to have it included. Alan Condell: “People often ask me how did my mother persuade JFK to visit Limerick. I have no idea. She was very persuasive and when she got her teeth into a problem she didn’t let it go.”

She had a hat made by “Pauline’s” for the event, this is now housed in the Limerick Museum. Frances Condell was the first woman to be elected Mayor of Limerick and the only female Mayor to date to serve two terms. Her speech read:

In welcoming you here this afternoon on this race course, Mr President, I would like you to know, however, that we of Limerick have a lovely city of which we are very proud, steeped as it is in history and antiquity with its charter and first Mayor, reaching away back to the year 1197. It was from our docks, Mr. President. that many emigrant ships set sail for your shores, and from which point of departure our people became yours. That time f great exodus is over, thank god , and I am sure and I am sure you will agree with me that there are enough of us over there to keep you happy, and to assure you of your faithful support at all times. The day has come when the point of departure and arrival has transferred itself from us, some 15 miles distant,and in keeping with modern times, to an airport. . . .

Mr President, we the women of Limerick city and County, feel that we have a special claim to you; we the Fitzgeralds. May I repeat we claim the Fitzgerald in you, sir, and we are extremely proud of that heritage. Over there you see a large number of you relatives and connections who have come to greet you on the distaff side. . . .

And now, Mr President, on behalf of my fellow councillors and citizens, I ask that you accept honorary freedom of our city of limerick. In our full recognition of he great honour you have done us in coming to visit us and in your distinguished leadership in aims vital, necessary, united and determined, may God bless you and your family. . . . I ask you, Mr President, to accept this scroll and casket which makes you a freeman, and gives you the freedom of the city of limerick.

Search This Site

  • Chronicles
  • Churches
  • Collaborations
  • Dr. Crumpe's Weather 1795
  • Featured
  • Folklore
  • Graveyards
  • Guest Posts
  • History
  • Letters
  • Limerick Places
  • Making The Most Of
  • On This Day
  • People & Genealogy
  • Press & Published
  • Quizzes
  • Rediscovering Limerick
  • Streets
  • Videos
  • Visitors to Limerick
  • Weddings 1862
  • Weddings 1863
  • Who was?

About Limerick’s Life

This website is a personal project of Sharon Slater, born from a passion for Limerick and its history. It has been maintained, updated and contributed to it independently and voluntarily. If you'd like to buy me a coffee to keep Limerick's history online, please know that all donations will go directly into the costs of hosting the website and the time and travel to research and write the articles found on the site.

Buy Me A Coffee
books
awards
awards
© 2025 Limerick's Life | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme