Episode 4: A Homecoming

November 2, 2023

About This Episode

On the heels of his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech, JFK traveled northward to Ireland, where his great-grandparents emigrated from in the 19th century. The first Irish Catholic president, JFK’s visit was both meaningful for him personally and a rousing and significant event for the people of Ireland. We’ll hear about the impact of his trip and speak with Dr. Catherine Healy, Historian-in-Residence at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, about JFK’s travels in the country.

View the transcript for this episode.

Related Material

Listen to President Kennedy’s speeches quoted in this episode:

View photos of and artifacts related to President Kennedy's trip to Ireland

Watch Colm Tóibín’s keynote at the 2013 PEN/Hemingway Award ceremony and the JFK Library Forum with Ryan Tubridy

Listen to Ambassador Thomas J. Kiernan’s oral history interview

Learn about our guest, Dr. Catherine Healy

Credits

Hosts and Producers: Matt Porter and Jamie Richardson

Supervising Producer: Valerie Linson

Director of Marketing: Rick King

Podcast Art: Brian Kang

Music: Premium Beat by Shutterstock