Today is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the 35th US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Dallas, Texas just months after visiting Ireland in June of that year
Kennedy was fatally shot by a sniper while travelling with his wife Jacqueline, the Governor of Texas and his wife in a presidential motorcade. This followed JFK’s visit to Ireland, only months before and shocked the Irish people.
On Friday’s Morning Focus we heard how Mairead Collins got on when she visited Clarecastle Daycare Centre to ask people their memories of JFK’s assassination fifty years ago today…
John Cooke was joined in studio by Ennis man Fergus Marshall – a former Irish cadet
Fergus was 18 years old in 1963 and a member of the the Irish Cadets
The senior cadets had performed for JFK during his earlier visit to Ireland
When JFK was assassinated Fergus- along with other members- was flown to Washington to perform the Queen Anne drill at JFK’s graveside for the funeral
He shared his memories of the time with John.
John also spoke with American couple Judy & Barry Merrill, living in Spanish Point, about their memories
Virginia native Judy was 16 when JFK was assassinated – she was in algebra class when the announcement was made and the school closed immediately
She was devastated and describes it as the end of her innocence
Her Church choir had been practicing all summer to perform on Christmas Day in Washington – instead they were invited to the White House on the 5th December to perform
Jusy recalled how Jackie O was still there with the children at the time preparing to leave
Barry Merrill was born in New York and raised in Tennessee
He was serving with the armed forces and in a submarine at the time of the assassination- he was the radio man and the message came in through him
The call came through at 3pm and he was told JFK had been shot but hadn’t been declared dead yet – he told John how he remembers every minute of that whole weekend and how tragic it was.
Ennis based historian Joe Quelly shared his memory of hearing the news of JFK’s death
In 1963 they had only got electricity in Fanore and when the news came it spread like wildfire – Kennedy had been people’s savoir as an Irish American at the time of such huge emigration and everyone was devastated
Joe was only a child at the time – he said after that everyone had a picture of John F Kennedy over the fireplaces.
In our Morning Focus Health Matters slot we speak with Dr Maire Finn from the Ennis Family Medical Centre
Today Dr Finn spoke about insomnia and answered listeners’ queries
Doctor Maire Finn is from the Ennis Family Medical Centre, and will be joining us again next Friday for more medical advice
You can always send us your thoughts and queries by email [email protected], but if you have concerns or queries about your own health right now please contact your local GP
Veteran Cameraman and Photographer Godfrey Graham covered JFK’s Irish Visit in 1963 – tonight he will be in Ennistymon’s Courthouse Gallery to give a talk and displaying his JFK photographs
He spoke about what it was like and invited people to come and see the photographs in Ennistymon tonight.
The Clare Hurlers Supporters shop will officially open today at 1pm in Ennis
Patrick Bourke has given the club floor space in the new Solo Menswear Shop
This is to support the hurlers and mark this historic sporting year
Mick O’Neill, Chairman of the Clare Hurlers Supporters Club, encouraged people to pop in for some merchandise and support the hurlers’ fund.
The Ennis District of Lions Clubs International have organised a fundraiser tomorrow in aid of the Philippines Typhoon Humanitarian Crisis
It’s a sale of donated custume jewelery – each piece for €5. They are still accepting items to sell
Gwen Culligan of the The County Boutique in Ennis – who is hosting tomorrow’s event- invited people to come and support the cause.
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