JFK60: A Hundred Thousand Welcomes

In June 1963, JFK became the first sitting U.S. President to visit Ireland, flying to Dublin from Berlin after delivering his powerful “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. President Kennedy was deeply proud of his Irish heritage, and during his historic visit remarked to the people of Limerick, “This is not the land of my birth but it is the land for which I hold the greatest affection.” He referred to his stay in Ireland as “the best four days of my life.”

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation commemorated the 60 years since President Kennedy’s emotional visit to his ancestral home, aiming to recapture the joy and optimism that defined this seminal moment in his life and in Irish history. This was a forward-looking celebration, challenging us to learn from the past, draw inspiration from President Kennedy’s visit and vision, and reflect on current U.S.-Ireland relations and the vast contributions of the Irish immigrants to U.S. culture and politics.

JFK60: A Hundred Thousand Welcomes brought together global leaders to celebrate the lasting legacy of John F. Kennedy and the enduring special ties between the United States and Ireland.

JFK Moonshot: Reimagining Human Potential And Progress

In a speech at Rice University in 1962, President Kennedy called on Americans to go to the moon and tackle other challenges, “not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” The nation responded with the greatest mobilization of scientific resources, imagination, and engineering in U.S. history. Presented in partnership with Trinity College Dublin and the Kennedy Summer School, the program will bring together visionary pioneers in the fields of health, cyberspace, environment, and more to explore how the Moonshot spirit lives on as we take on the most pressing challenges of our time.

Homecoming: JFK in Ireland

To mark the 60th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s visit to Ireland, the first by a serving US president, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, are proud to present Homecoming: JFK in Ireland. This temporary exhibition invites visitors to step back in time to 1963 and reflect on the atmosphere and impact of a momentous journey.