Keen supporter of Dunbrody project
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A SIGNPOST for Dunganstown once proudly hung in Senator Ted Kennedy's office.
One of the strongest memories Sean Reidy, the CEO of the JFK Trust, holds is the vision of the Wexford County Council sign indicating 'Dunganstown 3 miles'.
'I don't know how it got there – like I said to someone this week it must have been nicked,' laughed Sean.
The first time Sean met Senator Kennedy was in 1993 in his office in Washington, when he travelled over with Paddy Quinn from the Brandon House Hotel, Senator Jim Walsh and John Hutchison as part of a deputation from the JFK Trust.
'We went over to get Ted's support for the plans to build the Dunbrody. We were developing a business plan at the time and we wanted the family's endorsement. We went into his office and he met us and he was very enthusiastic. We have a letter from him which we used in our submission for government and corporate funding,' explained Sean.
Two nights later, the deputation were at the Ireland Fund Dinner, where Ted Kennedy officially introduced them to his sister Jean Kennedy Smith and tipped them off that she was due to be announced as the US Ambassador to Ireland within the next 24 hours.
'I was walking across the function room and Ted came over and tapped my shoulder and said "Sean, could you bring your party over to our table to meet my sister, Jean?" He said "I would like to let you know before the official announcement by Bill Clinton that Jean is to be announced as the US Ambassador to Ireland within the next 24 hours",' said Sean.
The last visit Sean had with the late Senator Kennedy was in Dublin Castle in 1998 when a stunning Waterford Crystal replica of the Dunbrody Famine Ship was presented to the Kennedy's by Bertie Ahern to mark Jean Kennedy Smith's outstanding contribution to New Ross and the Dunbrody project.
Although Ted himself never visited the Dunbrody Famine Ship, his two sons Ted Kennedy Junior and Congressman Patrick Kennedy paid a visit to the replica vessel during its construction.
'He was very warm, very good humoured and he made us feel very welcome and I got the sense that he had a real affection and a connection to Ireland and New Ross and appreciated the connection. It struck me that he was very much a patriarch of the Kennedy family. If the family were to support something he was the man to decide upon it. He was the man to pull the strings,' added Sean.
