The Irish Kennedys

The Kennedy family's Irish roots

CONN CORRIGAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 3:46 PM

Updated Wednesday, August 26, 2009, 10:50 AM

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The late President John F. Kennedy of the United States of America acknowledges the cheers of the crowd when he visits New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland

Photo by PA

The Kennedy political dynasty can trace their Irish roots to Dunganstown in Wexford.

Patrick Kennedy, the great-grandfather of John, Bobby and Teddy, left Ireland in 1848 to escape the grinding poverty and make a life for himself.

Patrick probably left for the same reason so many millions of Irish left; to escape the grinding poverty and seek a better life for himself in the “New World."

It is believed that Patrick had already met his future wife Bridget Murphy before he left for America. She followed him over and they married in 1849, in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, known as "the grandest Catholic Church in Boston."

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