Evening star., 1961-03-05

grandfather's house for a
typical firing squad-type
family portrait. This was
before he met Jacqueline
Bouvier and before he could
entruSt the family picture
taking to a professional.
Mrs. Ryan's tidy cottage,
with lace curtains at the
window, a big electric range
in the kitchen and a cozy
coal fire in the parlor, is in
marked contrast to Patrick
Kennedy's humble hut out in
the barnyard.
The low-Slung building is
now used as a boiler house."
where turnips and other
vegetables are boiled for
cattle forage. Its sole occu-
pant today is an enormous
sow who loudly gruntS her
dissatisfaction with the type
Of visitors who have been
frequenting the place of late.
The Kennedy election has
given the men of County
Wexford a new weapon in
their long standing rivalry
with the men from County
Kilkenny. just across the
river. For several years now
Wexford has had to take a
back seat to Kilkenny in
turning out top football and
hurting players. This al
though the Wexford men are,
by tradition. tall and sturdy,
like Cousin Jack" while the
Kilkenny men are short and
stocky or, as Paddy WEIGH
described them, lust two
hands higher than a duck"
Lots Of Relatives
Back in 1915 Gus Oxen
nedy. a distant relation Of
the President, brought Wex-
ford glory by winning a spot
on the All Ireland football
team, but last year, four
Kilkenny men were nomi-
mated.
THE only way we can shut
them up," said Paddy, lis to
ask them when's the last
time they turned out a Yam
kee President"
Both sides Of the river,
however, can boast of Ken
nedy cousins, as can most
towns for several. miles
around. And, apparently, the
number Of Kennedy claimants
is growing every day.
I'm a fourth cousin" q
pretty whisp Of a colleen re-
Gently informed a visitor.
"And you'd be shocked at the
number of people who now
claim to be related to me.
It's really quite distressing"
Officials at Dublin Castle,
where genealogical records are
kept, say there are $4,000
Kennedys and O'Kennedys in
Ireland. They place the name
18th in the list of most COM
mon Irish surnames.
Back in the days Of the
troubles. around 1920, a lot
of Kennedys in the flush of
patriotism changed their
name to OKennedy to make
themselves even more Irish"
Mayor Minihan explained.
And now a lot of them wish
to hell they hadn't"
Like most great Irish fami-
lies, the Kennedys can claim
to be descended from kings.
The clan was founded by
Cinneidigh, high king Of
North Munster, a nephew Of
Brian Boru, the great Irish
hero who defeated the Danes
at Clontarf in 10l4.
Dispute
There is a dispute, how
ever, as to what the name
Kennedy, or Cinneidigh as
1t is spelled In Irish, actually
means. Some say it means
following" Others, Repub-
licans probably, say it means
"sick in the head"
Whatever 1t means, the
Kennedy name has been
prominent in Irish history.
The Kennedys fought on the
side Of King James II against
William Of Orange, a fact
which caused the clan to be
prescribed by the Williamites.
In the Irish fight for inde-
pendence, they fought for
the republic and contributed
quite a few leaders to the
IRA.
A Hugh Kennedy was the
first chief justice of the Irish
Free State. E. j. Kennedy
was sheriff Of County Dublin
and, from 1890 to 1891, Lord
Mayor Of Dublin.
The Kennedys of New Ross
and the surrounding area,
however, steer clear Of poll
tics.
They're quiet people who
mind their own business"
explained d Paddy WEIGH.