Address by Limerick's Gerard Collins to mark death of JFK

THE former Minister for Foreign Affairs Gerard Collins will deliver the 2017 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Address to mark the death of the late US president.

The address, which is the only event of its type held to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the president, will be performed in the Thomas Fitzgerald Centre in Bruff which is the ancestral home of the Fitzgerald side of the late president’s family.

The centre was officially open by Caroline Kennedy in June 2013.

Each year the organisers of the event,  Bruff Heritage Group invite a politician or former politician to deliver the address. Last year, Sean Haughey TD,  the grandson of Sean Lemass who was a close friend of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, delivered the address.

The Chairman of Bruff Heritage Group - who organise the annual address and who operate the Thomas Fitzgerald Centre - Paul Dennehy told the Limerick Leader that he was delighted that Mr Collins would deliver the 2017 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Address, adding that “given his outstanding contribution to Irish politics for over 37 years, Gerard Collins has established himself as one of Ireland’s greatest statesmen”  

The address will take place on Wednesday  November 22  at 7.30pm in the Thomas Fitzgerald Centre in Bruff and is open to all to attend. Admission is free. Gerard Collins has a long and distinguished political career and was first elected to the Dail in 1967 - this week 50 years.

He served as parliamentary secretary to the minister for industry and commerce from 1969 to1970. He was appointed minister for posts and telegraphs from 1970 to 1973. He was later appointed as minister for justice, the youngest ever person to hold such an office.

He was subsequently appointed as minister for foreign affairs where he quickly established himself as an international politician. He was highly regarded by other European ministers and is credited with establishing important economic and social links.