26 September 2025 |
Airports
Visiting the JFK Homestead in Wexford – A Moving Journey Through History, Family, and Humour
by Erin Doyle
The homestead is still very much a family home, and that feeling infuses the entire experience. The exhibition was for us, hosted in part by a family member who continues to farm the land. His presence adds a warmth and authenticity that transforms the visit from a typical history lesson or museum visit into a living, breathing connection with Ireland’s most famous emigrant family.
What impressed me most was the balance of poignancy and humour woven throughout the storytelling. While deeply moving moments came from seeing personal mementos gifted to the family after JFK’s tragic assassination, there was also lightness in the stories shared. One highlight was the tale of the sofa that President Kennedy sat on during his visit in 1963.
Our host recounted, with a smile, how the sofa had been rescued from being fuel for a bonfire when his grandmother grew weary of it. It was then stored safely in the loft of a shed ensuring it’s preservation. Today, it sits proudly on display in the old stone shed, a piece of furniture elevated into a piece of living history. This witty storytelling reminded us that history can be both reverent and delightfully human.
Video footage shown during the tour reinforced this humanity. Our guide pointed out his grandmother and mother in the film, connecting the Kennedys of America with the Kennedys of Wexford. That personal perspective turned what might have been a distant political legacy into a shared family story.
The farmhouse itself remains private, but the family has recreated the original sitting room in the stone sheds. It is filled with photographs capturing JFK’s historic 1963 visit and Jacqueline Kennedy’s later trip with her children. That room—so full of images and memories—encapsulates the pride and affection felt by the Irish branch of the Kennedy family tree.
The most powerful moment of the visit came when I stepped into the yard of the homestead. It is easy to imagine the excitement of that summer day when President Kennedy greeted his Irish cousins, and just as easy to feel the weight of the tragedy that followed so soon after. It is a place where celebration and sorrow coexist, made all the more powerful by the humour, humanity, and pride still carried by the family today.
Visiting the Kennedy Homestead is more than a trip into history—it is an encounter with living heritage. It’s a place where family stories are shared with honesty, pride, and a touch of laughter, where the connection between Ireland and America is celebrated as something deeply personal. For me, it was a privilege to hear it told by those who continue to farm the land. What a fabulous way to safeguard the memories, and keep the Kennedy story alive.
