The 2021 Kennedy Summer School saw a gathering of political commentators; historians and journalists reunite for the first time since 2019 in New Ross as political discussion on the future of Ireland in terms of Brexit, post-pandemic, and our relationship with the US and more was up for debate.

Commencing the summer school events was a poignant occasion at the New Ross Library Park as the 20-minute color film of JFK’s arrival to New Ross in 1963 captured by 98-year-old local lady Peggy Walsh was premiered with Peggy and her family as special guests. 200 people enjoyed the outdoor screening and interviews and RTE’s Eileen Dunne described Peggy as ‘Ahead of her time.” A new award has now been created in Peggy’s name, “The Peggy Walsh Award” which will recognize emerging female talent in film making by Screen Wexford.

Here's a short clip of the footage: 

Beginning Friday’s events was the ‘Shared Island Experience’ hosted by the Department of An Taoiseach with Minister Darragh O’Brien, Sarah Creighton, Allison Morris, Dr. Robert Mauro, and Sorcha Eastwood chaired by RTE’S Bryan Dobson. The panel paid tribute to Pat Hume as a truly remarkable woman who will be very much missed.

Journalist Allison Morris said, “Young people, new communities and women have been identified as the under-represented voices in Northern Ireland and men have been the gatekeepers of many communities, which has kept funding from women there.” Sorcha Eastwood said, “when you have a situation where only 7% of our children are schooled together that’s an issue.”

On Friday evening the Kennedy Summer School was officially opened by CEO of Failte Ireland Paul Kelly who stated, “As a country, we will emerge from the pandemic well placed to make the most of the opportunity to build a more sustainable kind of tourism.”

Seamus Whelan son of the late Noel Whelan who was the founder of the Kennedy Summer School stole the show as he introduced the inaugural Noel Whelan interview.

“My Dad was very passionate about the summer school; this favorite part was when he got to interview someone one on one. Therefore it's very appropriate that an interview is being named after him.”

The inaugural Noel Whelan interview saw Virgin Media’s Zara King interview, Professor Luke O’Neill. Professor O’Neill commented, “We’ve been through very difficult times with Covid, because of all the unknowns."

He thinks history will be kind to how the country handled the crisis “We can all be very proud.”

Next up was Mick Mulvaney and Congressman Brendan Boyle discussed the polarization of US politics. Mick Mulvaney commented, “Factual news is hard to come by. News is replaced by ‘opinion and reaffirmation’ and ‘opinion and outrage’ is more profitable than facts. There is no reason to believe the US is alone in this.”

The final event of Friday evening saw Bertie Ahern put the questions to Tommie Gorman. "I saw our country take its place, fight for its place, participate. They were really really immense times," says Tommie Gorman as he recalls his days reporting from Brussels as Europe Editor.

Opening events on Saturday morning was the History Symposium with historians Dr. Margaret O' Callaghan of Queen’s University Belfast, Dr. Cormac Moore Historian in Residence at Dublin City Council, Dr. Bill Kissane of London School of Economics and Dr. Donnacha Ó Beacháin of Dublin City University discuss a range of seminal events in Irish and American history with moderator Dr. Mary C. Murphy of UCC. It was put to the panel ‘what lessons can be learned from Partition, 1921 – 2021’? Dr. Bill Kissane says on the De Valera approach of being one Nation one Ireland “theoretically it worked, practically it failed.”

The Irish Politics session was an all-female lineup of representatives, including Verona Murphy, Neasa Hourigan, Jennifer Carroll McNeill, and Mairead Farrell with RTÉ’s political reporter Mary Regan as moderator. Asked if the first female Taoiseach will be Mary Lou McDonald, Neasa Hourigan said, “the gender of the Taoiseach won't break ceilings but a better gender balance among our politicians, in general, will help to solve equality issues.”

That afternoon, a panel of Ireland’s leading legal journalists took to the stage to discuss ‘Covering the Courts ’ offering an insight into reporting on some of Ireland’s most fascinating legal cases that have gripped the nation in recent years. The panel included Conor Gallagher crime correspondent for The Irish Times, Frank Greaney the Communicorp courts correspondent, Orla O’Donnell RTÉ’s legal affairs correspondent, and Vivienne Traynor RTÉ’s court reporter with moderation from former Director-General of the Law Society of Ireland Ken Murphy. Orla O’Donnell commented that “Reporting on the courts has always been pressurized but now it's harder, as accurate info and detailed legal arguments have to be condensed into a tweet, as well as for radio and TV.”

The final event of the 2021 summer school saw Washington correspondent Suzanne Lynch of The Irish Times join RTE’s Washington correspondent Brian O’Donovan and Donie O’Sullivan of CNN as they discussed ‘Reporting on America in a Time of Tumult ’ offering an insight into their own first-hand experiences of covering the Trump and Biden administrations and the complex media landscape in the US with moderator Larry Donnelly. Discussing Trump, Larry asks why he polarises opinion so much, Donie says that for some there’s a ‘magic’ at a Trump rally. Suzanne Lynch agrees that he’s a communicator and some find him authentic, “he legitimized ideas that others wouldn't express.”

Commenting on the hugely successful blended event Chair of the Kennedy Summer School Willie Keilthy said, “We are hugely proud to have delivered a very successful Kennedy Summer School. Despite all of the restrictions we are delighted to have welcomed live audiences to St. Michael’s Theatre and to New Ross Library Park whilst also streaming all of the events for free. This year’s summer school was certainly different from usual but it was been a great success with a huge interest in all of the online events from across the globe.

"We’re looking forward to in-persons events looking a little more like normal in 2022 however we also see the value in reaching more people across the globe so we may retain some of the opportunity that blended events offer next year too.”

The Kennedy Summer School and Festival is run in association with New Ross Municipal District, Wexford County Council, Boston College, and Failte Ireland. The Kennedy Summer School Directors include Willie Keilthy, Larry Donnelly, Dr. Brian Murphy, Sinead McSweeney, Eileen Dunne, Eamonn Hore, and Dr. Bob Mauro.

For further details see www.kennedysummerschool.ie.