WATCH: Golden day as statue of president unveiled in Limerick town

“IT’S like he has come home – there is a real sense he has come back, he is back among us.”

The words of Margaret Ryan, a fourth cousin removed of John F Kennedy.

Rain gave way to sunshine and a clear sky in Bruff this Wednesday, as a bronze sculpture of the 35th American president was unveiled by the vice-president of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness.

The life-size statue of the president, who has deep Limerick roots, has been described as “a new landmark for our town and South Limerick” by Mark Nagle, who has helped make the plan a reality.

Mark described JFK as “Bruff’s most famous great grandson”.

The president’s great grandfather was one Thomas Fitzgerald who lived on the town’s main street.

Leaving Bruff in 1852, he headed across the Atlantic Ocean to Boston, where his son John ‘Honey’ Fitzgerald became the first son of an Irish emigrant to crack Boston politics, becoming City Mayor.

In that same year, Michael Hannon from nearby Lough Gur also emigrated, where he met and married Mary Anne Fitzgerald, also from Bruff. Thomas’s first cousin. Their daughter Mary Anne Hannon married Honey Fitz, with their daughter Rose being the mother of JFK, so the family’s links to the area run deep.

Relatives of the legendary politician joined local dignitaries and a crowd of over 200 for the occasion.

Catherine Doherty, Grange, who is another fourth cousin of JFK’s, said: “It’s a great day, and it means so much to us as a family. It’s an awful big honour, and means so much to those distant relatives who are still here in Bruff.”

The unveiling brings to three the number of JFK -themed attractions in the town – there is the Fitzgerald trail and the Thomas Fitzgerald Centre, which contains photographs and other memorabilia.

Michael Fitzgerald, a sixth cousin of the politician, said his closer family in America could return soon to visit.

“They think the statue is marvelous. I’d say it will only be a matter of time before they come back and see it. They are mad to come here. It’s an excellent statue: it’s a great resemblance of JFK – we are very happy,” he added.

His son, Emmett, 9, a seventh cousin, said he is “very proud” and it is an “exciting day” for him.

Symbolically, the statue depicts JFK holding a bible – Thomas Fitzgerald had carried that bible on leaving Bruff and it was used two generations later at the president’s inauguration in 1960.

Ms McGuinness said: “His legacy will be remembered forever, as it should be.” 

A wonderful day was rounded off by the local Wild Oats band playing both the American and Irish national anthems.