O'Kennedy's Ireland
This historic and touching document follows President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, grandson proud Irish immigrants, on a 4-day visit to ancient family homeland. Landing at Dublin Airport on June 26, 1963, he visited both small hamlet and big city, entertaining all with warm words, and honest smile. To understand a man, especially one this complex, you must look at his past. Mere words shed only some light on the O'Kennedy clan's thousandyear-old history. To give you a true sense of from whence they came, we've carefully interwoven footage of accurate reenactments and rare vintage film reels. It's a colorful past, indeed. The kinship President Kennedy felt for Ireland and her people was evident. Following his gaze across rolling green hills and smiling, rose-cheeked faces, we see a boy returning to a familiar place. But, it's his words, especially those spoken during the Farewell Address at Shannon Airport, that reveal JFK's true emotions. In retrospect, his promise "be back," is bittersweet, for on November 22 that year, JFK was assassinated.