Members of the Kennedy family traveled to Trim, Co Meath for the opening of an exhibition dedicated to long-time family friend and unofficial Irish ambassador to the US, Dot Tubridy.
Tubridy is credited with starting the tradition of Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) presenting US Presidents with shamrock in a Waterford Crystal bowl. on St. Patrick's Day.
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The exhibition entitled "Dear Dot" includes letters written to her by members of the Kennedy family, memorabilia from US election campaign, and audio messages from leading Kennedys including John Kennedy.
What a beautiful photograph of Dot Tubridy & JFK that is included in a wonderful exhibition @TrimTourismN on her life called #DearDot opened by Courtney Kennedy Hill #family #trailblazer #JFK #kennedy pic.twitter.com/1fcV16cZcm
— Anne Mathews FPRII (@annemat4) May 12, 2019
The collection was donated by Tubridy's family and was officially opened by Courtney Kennedy Hill, daughter of Robert Kennedy, and Sydney Kennedy Crawford McKelvy, daughter of Patricia Kennedy, on the first anniversary of Tubridy's death.
As the first of the Kennedy Clan ( Courtney Kennedy ) arrive to Trim we share this specially recorded message from @mariashriver about Dot Tubridy ahead of our opening of our 'Dear Dot' Exhibition on Sunday May 12th at Trim Visitor Centre, Ireland@DiscoverBoyneV @ancienteastIRL pic.twitter.com/SSNfoxbn0n
— Trim Tourism Network (@TrimTourismN) May 8, 2019
Tubridy was from Co Kilkenny but was living in Trimblestown stud near Trim when her husband Captain Michael Tubridy was killed in a horse riding accident in 1954.
Captain Tubridy was a footballer and Army showjumper who met fellow equestrian Ethel Skakel, then fiancé of Robert Kennedy at a showjumping event in Madison Square Garden in 1946.
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The two couples became friends and following her husband's death Dot Tubridy became Waterford Crystal's ambassador to the US and started the tradition of presenting shamrock on St Patrick's Day in the company's bowl.
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition Courtney Kennedy Hill - who was Tubridy's goddaughter - said she was instrumental in bringing John F Kennedy to Ireland and every member of the Kennedy clan after that, reports RTE News.
Ms Tubridy is credited with starting the tradition of the Taoiseach presenting US Presidents with shamrock in a Waterford Crystal bowl https://t.co/6cVVPKTU3X
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 12, 2019
She said over the years Dot found every businessperson she could to get them to invest in Ireland and politicians to help with the troubles in the North.
RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy, who is a cousin of Dot, attended the ceremony. The host of Irelands pre-eminent TV talk show program the Late Late Show, released a 302-page long book entitled “JFK in Ireland” in 2010.
yan Tubridy at the signing of his book JFK in Ireland in Easons store on O'Connell Street in Dublin. Image: RollingNews.ie
Designer Ib Jorgenson was also present. Jorgenson's gown, which Tubridy wore at JFK's inauguration ball, is one of the exhibits.
Are you planning on visiting the "Dear Dot" exhibition?
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