An Irishman who made his fortune in America is to fly the Kennedy clan home for celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of JFK’s triumphant visit to Ireland.

Dundalk native Pearse Lyons is to use his tech company Alltech’s private jet to transport members of the Kennedy family back to Ireland in June.

The Kentucky based Lyons will utilise his $50million Gulfstream jet to fly the Kennedys to Ireland for celebrations in the ancestral homeland of New Ross, County Wexford.

The Irish government have also extended an invitation to members of the Kennedy family for the event which will form part of The Gathering celebrations.

Lyons told the Irish Independent newspaper: “It was interesting to recently hear again JFK’s passion about what could happen in Ireland. His great grandfather went to Boston as a cooper. My great grandfather was a cooper too.”

Plans for the June celebrations include the re-opening of the Kennedy Homestead visitor centre at Dunganstown outside New Ross by Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

Senior members of the Kennedy family expected to attend the celebrations include former US Ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith, who is JFK’s sister, and Maria Shriver.

Lyons’ company Alltech will also spend over $1.5million on an event in Dublin in July as part of the Government’s Gathering initiative.

The event will showcase products and technology developed by Alltech and could attract as many as 3,000 people according to the report.