John F Kennedy took the oath of office as President of the United States in 1961 on a Bible that came from Bruff, Co Limerick.
It had been brought to America by his great-grandfather, Thomas Fitzgerald, in 1952.
Three of President Kennedy’s great-grandparents came from Bruff, so Limerick can rightly claim to have put the F in JFK.
It was in the Fitzgerald ancestral home that The American President’s Trail was launched today, to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The trail tells the story of migration from across the island of Ireland and how those emigrant communities helped shape American history.
It highlights the remarkable fact that nearly half of US presidents have Irish ancestry, with family connections stretching to counties including Antrim, Mayo, Offaly, Wexford, and Limerick.
John F Kennedy took the oath of office as President of the United States in 1961 on a Bible that came from Bruff
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, planted a commemorative tree in Bruff Riverside Park to launch the heritage trail.
Mr O’Donovan said no other place in the world has given as many occupants to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue than the island of Ireland.
He said the Government and local authorities wanted to celebrate the link in as many communities as possible.
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The trail will celebrate the Irish migrant stories that laid paths to the White House, from Andrew Jackson in 1829 to Joe Biden in 2021.
At least 17 presidents can trace their ancestral connections to Ulster, including William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and Gerald Ford.
Cousins of President Kennedy still live in Limerick.
Three of President Kennedy’s great-grandparents came from Bruff
Eileen Lillis McMahon is a fourth cousin of JFK.
Her mother was one of the relatives to welcome President Kennedy to Limerick at Greenpark Racecourse in 1963.
The president delighted the crowd by referring to his Fitzgerald ancestors from Bruff.
Spotting members of the Fitzgerald family in the crowd, he said, “I want to express my pleasure at seeing the Fitzgeralds. I wonder if they could stand up? One of them looks just like Grandpa, and that is a compliment”.
Nearly half of US presidents have Irish ancestry
He was referring to Jim Hogan, an uncle of Ms McMahon, who resembled John “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald.
Ms McMahon said President Kennedy told his brother Ted, who later came to Ireland and met Mr Hogan.
A new museum is set to open in Limerick city in what was once the International Rugby Experience.
Mr O’Donovan said he would like to see the Bible on which President Kennedy took the oath of office displayed in Ireland on loan from Boston.
The Bible is currently part of an exhibition at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.