Caroline Kennedy set for Ireland to mark JFK's 50th anniversary visit

Part of Ireland’s Gathering celebration will feature eternal flame from JFK’s grave

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A Kennedy family reunion will take place in Wexford, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of President John F Kennedy’s visit to Ireland.

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A Kennedy family reunion will take place in Wexford, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of President John F Kennedy’s visit to Ireland. The event, which is part of The Gathering, is expected to be led by the President’s daughter Caroline Kennedy.

The main event will be the lighting of an eternal flame adjacent to the Dunbrody famine ship, in New Ross. This event, on June 22nd, will be attended by Ireland’s Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

This eternal flame will be brought from President Kennedy’s gravesite, at Arlington Cemetery, in Virginia. It will be lit on JFK’s birthday, May 29th, and transported to Ireland, the Irish Times reports.

During the reunion an upgraded Kennedy Homestead will be reopened, along with a new boardwalk in the town of New Ross.

The organizing committee will be given between $17,300 and $19,900 in funding from insurers IPB and The Gathering, through Ireland’s Department of Tourism. This funding is part of the overall $2.6 million investment being made in The Gathering.

Some 1,322 events are taking place around Ireland in 2013 as part of the tourism initiative. These include 82 county flagship events and 1,240 smaller local community events.

For more news on the Gathering and various events around Ireland click here.

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