Inspired by the legacy of Bruff and Lough Gur to the American Fitzgerald Kennedy political dynasty, the weekend gathering in County Limerick will explore the life of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, mother of President John F Kennedy (three of her four grandparents came from Bruff/Lough Gur). As well as honouring the matriarch, the School also explores the wider Irish-American emigration experience, from post-famine times to the present day, with a particular focus on women.
to the fifth Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School, in Bruff, Co Limerick.
Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Older People, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Housing. He attended school in Bruff.
Moran.
Founder of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School located in Bruff and Lough Gur.
Talk by Bad Bridget authors Prof Elaine Farrell, Queen’s University Belfast, and Prof Leanne McCormick, Ulster University; Also on panel Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo, US influencer, granddaughter of Bobby Kennedy and daughter of Kerry Kennedy and Andrew Cuomo
Moderator Dr Catherine Healy Historian in residence, EPIC the Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin
Leanne McCormick, professor of modern Irish history, and Elaine Farrell, social historian – together they lead the Bad Bridget project which focuses on Irish women in North America who found themselves on the wrong side of the law in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
writer, speaker, and educator, she translates research on trauma, stress, and emotional wellbeing into accessible practices that help people reconnect. Here, at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy School, she joins discussions, bringing a perspective informed by both her family’s history — as a granddaughter of Robert and Ethel Kennedy — and her work exploring the enduring legacy of migration, identity, and inherited experience.
Catherine Healy is historian-in-residence at EPIC the Irish emigration museum, where she has curated exhibitions including Homecoming: JFK in Ireland.
A former journalist, she holds a PhD in history from Trinity and is an expert on Irish female emigration to America. Her first book Intimate Connections: Irish Domestic Servants in Transatlantic Culture was published in 2025.
Tim O’Connor is a former senior diplomat at the Department of Foreign Affairs 1979–2007, and former Secretary General to the President of Ireland 2007–10. Most of his career was spent working on the N Ireland peace process and he was a member of the government team for the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He was Consul General to New York from 2005–07. Today he is a member of the Independent Reporting Commission on Paramilitarism.
A session showcasing the story of Fashion and Design in the Mid West and the region’s stellar reputation in the space; Panel: Michael Stewart founder of leading London label Standing Ground, Dara Waldron best-selling author and LSAD lecturer, Teresa Crowley director Hunt Museum, Moderator: Deirdre McQuillan fashion editor Irish Times
The event is curated by Mike Fitzpatrick
A Kilkishen, Co Clare native, Stewart’s meteoric rise reached a global pinnacle when he was awarded the Savoir-Faire Prize in 2024, a distinction recognising exceptional technical excellence and traditional craft. With his London label Standing Ground, he is recognised for his meticulous craftsmanship and structural silhouettes. His debut at this year’s Paris Haute Couture Week solidified his standing as a visionary talent.
A long-established journalist, author and the current fashion editor for the Irish Times, her books include The Aran Sweater, The Irish Country House Table and Mary Robinson: A President in Progress
The City of Limerick Pipe Band perform at LOUGH GUR LAKEFRONT
Renowned as one of Ireland’s leading pipe bands since its founding in 1949, 2024 saw them headlining Savannah, Georgia’s 200th St Patrick’s Day anniversary, in addition to participating in the Interceltic Festival in Lorient, France. Limerick-based in Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School, they welcome new members of all ages for fun, travel and adventure.
Panel comprising Daragh O’Malley actor, writer, documentary-maker and son of Donogh O’Malley, Prof Tom Collins and Prof Áine Hyland
Moderator David McCullagh
is an actor, director and producer who has appeared in over a hundred stage, television and film productions around the world, including The Long Good Friday, Withnail and I, Wire in The Blood and Vera He won a Drama Logue Best Actor award for his appearance in Patrick Marber’s Dealer’s Choice at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. His work has been recognised in the UK theatre industry having been nominated for Best Actor Offie in 2019, ’22 and ’23
Prof Tom Collins is.
Emeritus professor of education and former vice-president of UCC, she has long been an advocate for women’s rights, ideals and empowerment — ideals which underpin the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School. She was an executive officer in the Dept of Education in the sixties and a research assistant with Investment In Education, which prepared the groundwork for the introduction of free secondary education.
A noted broadcaster, journalist and historian, David McCullagh presents RTÉ Radio’s flagship current affairs programme Today With David McCullagh and has co-anchored RTÉ’s SixOne News and presented Prime Time. For twelve years, he was RTÉ’s political correspondent. His work as a historian includes a two-volume biography of Eamon de Valera, a biography of another taoiseach, John A Costello, and a history of the first interparty government 1948-51.
renowned Limerick storyteller, performs excerpts from his show Young America and Old Ireland.
HOST
Dr Potter has been curator of Limerick Museum since 2017 during which time the museum has hosted over eighty exhibitions, both actual and virtual. He is also an associate fellow of the Department of History, University of Limerick. Dr Potter has published several books and articles on the history and heritage of Limerick.
Peter McMahon of the Irish Defence Forces cadets who performed the graveside drill at JFK’s funeral in November 1963 is interviewed by Dr Pat Wallace former director National Museum of Ireland
An account of how the Irish Defence Forces cadets performed the graveside drill at President Kennedy’s funeral at Arlington in November 1963.
is a former director of the National Museum of Ireland.
Linda Ervine, Irish language activist and founder of Scoil Na Seolta in East Belfast, tells her inspiring story.
Linda Ervine Scoil Na Seolta
relates her inspiring story of activism in Belfast, founding Scoil na Seolta in the process.
Róisín Ní Ghairbhí.
MASS FOLLOWED BY BREAKFAST (fully subscribed)
Special remembrance Mass for Fitzgerald families, immigrants and emigrants. Musical guests at Mass and breakfast.
Dr Scott Lucas Clinton Institute, UCD, in conversation with Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo, John Lahart TD and Prof Gary O’Brien Vice-president Mary Immaculate College and expert on US politics, as the congressional elections loom next month.
Moderator: Dr Dan Mulhall
Scott Lucas is a professor of international politics at the Clinton Institute, UCD since 2014, and is a noted commentator on US and international affairs. He is professor emeritus of international politics at the University of Birmingham and editor-in-chief of EA Worldview. He is a specialist in American politics, US and British foreign policy.
writer, speaker, and educator, she translates research on trauma, stress, and emotional wellbeing into accessible practices that help people reconnect. Here, at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy School, she joins discussions, bringing a perspective informed by both her family’s history — as a granddaughter of Robert and Ethel Kennedy — and her work exploring the enduring legacy of migration, identity, and inherited experience.
representing Dublin SW in the Dáil, he chairs the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. He is FF spokesperson on the European Union.
Gary O’Brien is vice-president of governance and strategy at Mary Immaculate College, with responsibility for institutional governance, strategic and operational planning, policy development, compliance, ICT, communications and marketing, community engagement and quality assurance. Alongside his executive role, he remains active in research on American politics and foreign policy, with a particular focus on strategic nuclear policy and international relations from the beginning of the Cold War to the present day, which was the subject of his doctoral thesis.
John Carew
SPEAKER
Declan Hehir is founder and director of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School.
FRIDAY 23rd October
7.30 pm: Formal opening of School by Mayor of Limerick John Moran
Welcome: Declan Hehir Director of the School
Opening remarks: Kieran O’Donnell TD, Minister of State for Housing and Older People
8 pm: Talk by Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick on their book Bad Bridget—Crime, Mayhem and the Lives of Irish Emigrant Women
Also on panel Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo
Moderator: Dr Catherine Healy, EPIC—the Irish Emigration Museum
Followed by
Closing remarks: Tim O’Connor
THOMAS FITZGERALD CENTRE, BRUFF
S O C I A L C L U B * C L A N C Y’ S
SATURDAY 24th October
10.30 am: Fashion, Place And Belonging In Limerick
Showcasing the story of fashion and design in the Midwest and the region’s stellar reputation in the space
Panel: Michael Stewart, Dara Waldron, Teresa Crowley
Moderator: Deirdre McQuillan, Fashion Editor - The Irish Times
LOUGH GUR VISITOR CENTRE
City of Limerick Pipe Band performance LOUGH GUR LAKEFRONT
Afterwards: Children’s Reading/Storytelling session
LOUGH GUR VISITOR CENTRE
1.30 pm: 60th Anniversary of Free Education marking 60 years after Donogh O’Malley’s historic decision to introduce free secondary education. Panel comprising Daragh O’Malley, Prof Áine Hyland and Prof Tom Collins
Moderator: David McCullagh
4 pm: Storytelling Daithí Collopy performs excerpts from his show Young America and Old Ireland
Introduced by Dr Matthew Potter
5 pm: Human Rights — interview with Peter McMahon, of the Irish Defence Forces Cadets who performed the graveside drill at JFK’s funeral in 1963
Interviewer: Dr Pat Wallace
7.30 pm: Linda Ervine — how she spearheaded the first Irish language school in East Belfast
Introduced by Prof Róisín Ní Ghairbhí
8.30 pm: Kennedys’ Human Rights Legacy — the Kennedy influence on human rights
Panel: Dr Barbara Perry, Liam Herrick, Mariah Kennedy-Cuomo
Moderator: Dr Dan Mulhall
THOMAS FITZGERALD CENTRE, BRUFF
S O C I A L C L U B * C L A N C Y’ S
featuring trad music led by members of Bruff Comhaltas and conversation in Irish
SUNDAY 25th October
10 am: Mass
PATRICKSWELL CHURCH, LOUGH GUR
11 am: Fitzers Community Breakfast
HONEY FITZ THEATRE, LOUGH GUR
2 pm: America Today US politics as congressional elections loom
Prof Scott Lucas, Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo, John Lahart TD, Prof Gary O’Brien
4 pm: Performance of play Inspirations based on the work of local artists and directed by John Carew
S O C I A L C L U B * C L A N C Y’ S
Set up by members of the community to memorialise the Fitzgerald Kennedy links that stem from 1850, the School sheds light on Irish emigrants’ feeling for place that, just like the Fitzgeralds, they left over a century ago, and to echo recent remarks by the former Taoiseach, many in our families have once been asylum seekers, immigrants or emigrants, and nationality and identity ‘are far more complex and fluid than people often care to admit’. We hope to have a lively debate and consider the contrast between Ireland—then and now.
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