Inspired by the legacy of Bruff and Lough Gur to the American Fitzgerald Kennedy political dynasty, the weekend gathering in County Limerick will explore the life of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, mother of President John F Kennedy (three of her four grandparents came from Bruff/Lough Gur). As well as honouring the matriarch, the School also explores the wider Irish-American emigration experience, from post-famine times to the present day, with a particular focus on women.
to the fifth Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School, in Bruff, Co Limerick.
Talk by Prof Elaine Farrell, Queen’s University Belfast, and Prof Leanne McCormick Ulster University, authors of Bad Bridget—Crime, Mayhem and the Lives of Irish Emigrant Women. Also on panel Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo, US influencer, granddaughter of Bobby Kennedy and daughter of Kerry Kennedy and Andrew Cuomo
Moderator Dr Catherine Healy Historian in residence, EPIC the Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin
is a writer, speaker, and educator whose work explores the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, spirituality, and the body. Through her writing and teaching, she translates research on trauma, stress, and emotional wellbeing into accessible practices that help people reconnect with themselves, one another, and the wis- dom of their own hearts. Her work focuses particularly on how the experienc- es of our families, cultures, and ancestors continue to live within us—shaping our nervous systems, identities, and relationships—and how individuals and communities can transform that inheritance into greater freedom, connection, and purpose. A granddaughter of Senator Robert F Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, Michaela’s work is rooted in a com- mitment to making psychological, somatic, and spiritual tools more accessible so that heart-led living is not a privilege, but a possibility for all. She writes the Re-StHeart newsletter, where she shares essays on grief, growth, belonging, and the human experience, and leads conversations and workshops on mental, emotional, somatic, and spiritual wellbeing. At the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School, she joins discussions on contemporary America while bringing a perspective informed by both her family’s history and her work exploring the endur- ing psychological legacy of migration, identity, and inherited experience.
Prof Barbara Perry is a biographer of the Kennedys and an expert on the US presidency and US Supreme Court. She is the Director of Presidential Studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, where she co-chairs the Presidential Oral History Program.
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CLOSING REMARKS
Tim O’Connor is a former senior diplomat at the dept. of foreign affairs 1979–2007, and former Secretary General to the President of Ireland 2007–2010. Most of his career was spent working on the N Ireland Peace Process and he was a member of the Irish government team for the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He was Consul General to New York from 2005–2007. Today he is a member of the Independent Reporting Commission on Paramilitarism.
The City of Limerick Pipe Band perform at LOUGH GUR LAKEFRONT
The City of Limerick Pipe Band is renowned as one of Ireland’s leading pipe bands since its founding in 1949. Last year saw them headlining Savannah, Georgia’s 200th St Patrick’s Day anniversary, in addition to participating in the Interceltic Festival in Lorient, France. Limerick-based in Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School, they welcome new members of all ages for fun, travel and adventure.
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Panel discussion
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Dr Bernadette Whelan MRIA Emeritus Professor, Dept of History, University of Limerick on Locating the American dimension of Irishwomen’s lives 1845-1920 – Exploring the extent to which the concept and reality of ‘America’ affected Irishwomen’s lives.
is professor emeritus in the department of history at the University of Limerick. She publishes extensively on American-Irish relations. She has written De Valera and Roosevelt, Irish and American Diplomacy in times of Crisis: 1932-1939 published by Cambridge University Press in 2021.
MODERATOR
Dr Potter has been curator of Limerick Museum since 2017 during which time the museum has hosted over eighty exhibitions, both actual and virtual. He is also an associate fellow of the department of history, University of Limerick. Dr Potter has published several books and articles on the history and heritage of Limerick.
Focusing on women’s role in the peace process, a retrospective discussion about the 1998 Good Friday Agreement affording lessons for today’s global conflict.
Prof Monica McWilliams Co-leader of Women’s Coalition team, Good Friday Agreement 1998
is an academic and former politician. She is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Michigan, and is emeritus professor of women’s studies and social policy at Ulster University. She co-founded the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition and led its negotiating team at the Good Friday Agreement talks. She was elected to the legislative assembly in Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2003, and today she is a member of the Independent Reporting Commission on paramilitarism (IRC).
Tim O’Connor is a former senior diplomat at the dept. of foreign affairs 1979-2007, and former Secretary General to the President of Ireland 2007-2010. Most of his career was spent working on the N Ireland peace process and he was a member of the Irish government team for the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He was Consul General to New York 2005-2007. Today he is a member of the Independent Reporting Commission on paramilitarism (IRC).
leads the Community and Political Dialogue Programme at Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Co Wicklow. Pat has long experience in peace negotiations and conflict resolution and in 1997/98 was an adviser to Bertie Ahern in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement.
writes about politics for the Irish Independent and is a regular contributor to Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4. He reported European affairs from Brussels for the Independent Group from 1989 until 1999. He was deputy government press secretary from 2007 to 2011 (Green Party). Author of Most Skilful, Most Devious, Most Cunning—a Political Biography of Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny The Unlikely Taoiseach. He is a native of Limerick City.
MASS FOLLOWED BY BREAKFAST (fully subscribed)
Special remembrance Mass for Fitzgerald families, immigrants and emigrants, and to mark the occasion of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend’s visit. Musical guests include male choir and harpist at Mass and breakfast.
Dr Scott Lucas Clinton Institute, UCD, in conversation with Prof Gary O’Brien Vice-president Mary Immaculate College, one year on from the US presidential election.
Scott Lucas is a professor of international politics at the Clinton Institute, UCD since 2014, and is a noted commentator on US and international affairs. He is professor emeritus of international politics at the University of Birmingham and editor-in-chief of EA Worldview. He is a specialist in American politics, US and British foreign policy.
Gary O’Brien is vice-president of governance and strategy at Mary Immaculate College, with responsibility for institutional governance, strategic and operational planning, policy development, compliance, ICT, communications and marketing, community engagement and quality assurance. Alongside his executive role, he remains active in research on American politics and foreign policy, with a particular focus on strategic nuclear policy and international relations from the beginning of the Cold War to the present day, which was the subject of his doctoral thesis.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí
SPEAKER
Declan Hehir is founder and director of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School.
FRIDAY 23rd October
7.30 pm: Formal opening of School by Mayor of Limerick John Moran
Welcome: Declan Hehir Director of the School
8 pm: Talk by Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick on their book Bad Bridget—Crime, Mayhem and the Lives of Irish Emigrant Women
Also on panel Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo
Moderator: Dr Catherine Healy, EPIC—the Irish Emigration Museum
Followed by
Closing remarks: Tim O’Connor
THOMAS FITZGERALD CENTRE, BRUFF
S O C I A L * C L U B * C L A N C Y' S
SATURDAY 24th October
11 am: Fashion, Place And Belonging In Limerick
Showcasing the story of fashion and design in the Midwest and the region’s stellar reputation in the space
Panel: Michael Stewart, Dara Waldron, Teresa Crowley
Moderator: Deirdre McQuillan, Fashion Editor - The Irish Times
LOUGH GUR VISITOR CENTRE
City of Limerick Marching Band performance
LOUGH GUR LAKEFRONT
Afterwards: Children’s Reading/Storytelling session
LOUGH GUR VISITOR CENTRE
2 pm: 60th Anniversary of Free Education Scheme marking 60 years after the historic decision in 1966 of Donogh O’Malley, to introduce free secondary education. Panel comprising Daragh O’Malley, Prof Áine Hyland and Paula Meehan
Moderator: David McCullagh
4 pm: Storytelling Daithí Collopy performs excerpts from his show Young America and Old Ireland
Moderator: Dr Matthew Potter
5 pm: Human Rights — interview with Peter McMahon, one of the Irish Defence Forces Cadets who performed the graveside drill at President Kennedy’s funeral in 1963
Interviewer: Dr Pat Wallace
7.30 pm: Linda Ervine — how she spearheaded the first Irish language school in East Belfast
Moderator: Deirdre O’Shaughnessy
8.30 pm: Kennedys’ Human Rights Legacy — the Kennedy influence on human rights
Panel: Dr Barbara Perry, Liam Herrick, Mariah Kennedy-Cuomo
Moderator: Dr Dan Mulhall
THOMAS FITZGERALD CENTRE, BRUFF
S O C I A L * C L U B * C L A N C Y' S
featuring trad music led by members of Bruff Comhaltas and conversation in Irish
SUNDAY 25th October
10 am: Mass
PATRICKSWELL CHURCH, LOUGH GUR
11 am: Fitzers Community Breakfast
HONEY FITZ THEATRE, LOUGH GUR
2 pm: America Today US politics ahead of the congressional elections
Dr Scott Lucas, Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo, John Lahart TD, Prof Gary O’Brien
4 pm: Performance of play: Inspirations based on the work of local artists and directed by John Carew
S O C I A L * C L U B * C L A N C Y' S
Set up by members of the community to memorialise the Fitzgerald Kennedy links that stem from 1850, the School sheds light on Irish emigrants’ feeling for place that, just like the Fitzgeralds, they left over a century ago, and to echo recent remarks by the former Taoiseach, many in our families have once been asylum seekers, immigrants or emigrants, and nationality and identity ‘are far more complex and fluid than people often care to admit’. We hope to have a lively debate and consider the contrast between Ireland—then and now.
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