JFK in Ireland
Encyclopedia
JFK in Ireland: Four Days That Changed a President is the title of the first book written by Irish broadcaster Ryan Tubridy
. Released in 2010, it is a profile of President of the United States
John F. Kennedy
's 1963 visit to Ireland.
A spokesperson for Eason & Son
was reported to have called it "one of the most highly anticipated literary events of the year". Tubridy was exempted from paying income tax on his work, leading to criticism from politicians and the media. The broadcaster said he would send copies of the book to both the Kennedy family
and the White House
. The book contains photographs of Kennedy's visit.
A documentary, JFK: A Homecoming, by Ryan Tubridy was broadcast on RTÉ One
prior to the book's release. Bernice Harrison, reviewing the week's television in The Irish Times
, commented: "The timing of this history documentary – not the usual bank-holiday viewing, not an anniversary of the visit, no new revelations – was peculiar until you noted that RTÉ's star presenter has a book coming out this week about the JFK visit. Nice publicity if you can get it".
signed Tubridy as part of a two-book deal. They wanted an autobiography but he persuaded them otherwise. The broadcaster said he had thought about going back to college before taking on the task of writing this book.
(then President of Ireland
) had part of Kennedy's speech to Dáil Éireann
erased from all records after finding its content offensive. Intended as a joke, the comment "Leinster House
does not inspire the brightest ideas" led to a "dressing down" for Kennedy and Taoiseach
Seán Lemass
to question this "utter suppression" by de Valera.
on 27 October 2010. There was some speculation beforehand over whether Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin
would make an appearance. She did and Tubridy posed for photographs alongside her. He described her as "my date for the evening" and would not confirm if there was any romance involved. Tubridy praised his family and requested applause be given for his friend and colleague Gerry Ryan
who had died earlier that year
.
The Irish Independent
newspaper published two supplements based on Tubridy's research alongside input from historians Tim Pat Coogan
and Diarmaid Ferriter
on the day of the launch and the following day.
Tubridy signed copies of his book at Shop Street
in Galway
on 3 November 2010.
Deaglán de Bréadún of The Irish Times praised the photographs, describing them as "like going through a family album", but was less keen on Tubridy's writing skills: "Tubridy is a good writer, not a great writer, but it is the photographs that form the primary merit of this beautifully produced volume", he wrote.
Dubray Books reported that thousands of copies of JFK in Ireland were ordered in advance of the launch. The book entered the Eason bestseller list at number two but fell to number four in the second week, being beaten by sales of Paul Howard's latest Ross O'Carroll-Kelly
book, a Jamie Oliver
cookbook and Johnny Giles
's autobiography. By 10 November, JFK in Ireland had sold 1,116 books.
Joe Higgins
said: "The fact that Ryan Tubridy is claiming the exemption is ridiculous, there is no question about that. The rule should be changed, full stop."
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
. Released in 2010, it is a profile of President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's 1963 visit to Ireland.
A spokesperson for Eason & Son
Eason & Son
Eason & Son is a group involved in the wholesale, distribution and retail of books, newspapers, magazines, stationery and cards on the island of Ireland ....
was reported to have called it "one of the most highly anticipated literary events of the year". Tubridy was exempted from paying income tax on his work, leading to criticism from politicians and the media. The broadcaster said he would send copies of the book to both the Kennedy family
Kennedy family
In the United States, the phrase Kennedy family commonly refers to the family descending from the marriage of the Irish-Americans Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald that was prominent in American politics and government. Their political involvement has revolved around the...
and the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. The book contains photographs of Kennedy's visit.
A documentary, JFK: A Homecoming, by Ryan Tubridy was broadcast on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
prior to the book's release. Bernice Harrison, reviewing the week's television in The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
, commented: "The timing of this history documentary – not the usual bank-holiday viewing, not an anniversary of the visit, no new revelations – was peculiar until you noted that RTÉ's star presenter has a book coming out this week about the JFK visit. Nice publicity if you can get it".
Background
For more than €100,000 HarperCollinsHarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
signed Tubridy as part of a two-book deal. They wanted an autobiography but he persuaded them otherwise. The broadcaster said he had thought about going back to college before taking on the task of writing this book.
Overview
JFK in Ireland serves as a profile of John F. Kennedy's 1963 visit to Ireland while he was President of the United States. Kennedy referred to this visit as "the best 'four days of his life'" and it occurred five months before his assassination. Tubridy's book discusses how Kennedy's visit affected the country, wondering if it was an inspirational one and featuring rare photographs and personal documents.Research
While researching the book, Tubridy discovered that Éamon de ValeraÉamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
(then President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
) had part of Kennedy's speech to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
erased from all records after finding its content offensive. Intended as a joke, the comment "Leinster House
Leinster House
Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...
does not inspire the brightest ideas" led to a "dressing down" for Kennedy and Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Seán Lemass
Seán Lemass
Seán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
to question this "utter suppression" by de Valera.
Launch
JFK in Ireland was launched at the Mansion House, DublinMansion House, Dublin
The Mansion House on Dawson Street, Dublin, is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715.-Features:The Mansion House's most famous features include the "Round Room", where the First Dáil assembled on 21 January 1919 to proclaim the Irish Declaration of Independence...
on 27 October 2010. There was some speculation beforehand over whether Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin
Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin
Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin is an Irish schoolteacher, television personality, and singer from County Mayo, who won the 2005 Rose of Tralee contest. Ní Shúilleabháin graduated with a first-class honours degree in theoretical physics from University College Dublin in 2005 and won the Mayo Rose...
would make an appearance. She did and Tubridy posed for photographs alongside her. He described her as "my date for the evening" and would not confirm if there was any romance involved. Tubridy praised his family and requested applause be given for his friend and colleague Gerry Ryan
Gerry Ryan
Gerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
who had died earlier that year
Death of Gerry Ryan
The sudden death of RTÉ broadcaster Gerry Ryan occurred on 30 April 2010. He was 53. Ryan had been presenting The Gerry Ryan Show since 1988 and at the time of his death had the largest audience on RTÉ 2fm...
.
The Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
newspaper published two supplements based on Tubridy's research alongside input from historians Tim Pat Coogan
Tim Pat Coogan
Timothy Patrick Coogan is an Irish historical writer, broadcaster and newspaper columnist. He served as editor of the Irish Press newspaper from 1968 to 1987...
and Diarmaid Ferriter
Diarmaid Ferriter
Diarmaid Ferriter is an Irish author, historian, and university lecturer. He has authored several books on the subject of Irish history. Diarmaid attended St. Benildus College in Kilmacud in Dublin.-Career:...
on the day of the launch and the following day.
Tubridy signed copies of his book at Shop Street
Shop Street
Shop Street is the main thoroughfare in Galway City, County Galway in Ireland.It is a pedestrianised street, containing central Galway's best preserved ancient building, Lynch's Castle. As the main shopping street in Galway City, it contains old brick buildings, bright storefronts, numerous pubs...
in Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
on 3 November 2010.
Reception
Tubridy thought critics would give the book "a bit of a kicking" due to his own popularity. Miss Ní Shúilleabháin commented: "The book looks brilliant - he [Tubridy] put an awful lot of work into it. It is a great product, and he is very proud of it. Even though I am not very interested in history myself, it is easy to see it is a wonderful book".Deaglán de Bréadún of The Irish Times praised the photographs, describing them as "like going through a family album", but was less keen on Tubridy's writing skills: "Tubridy is a good writer, not a great writer, but it is the photographs that form the primary merit of this beautifully produced volume", he wrote.
Dubray Books reported that thousands of copies of JFK in Ireland were ordered in advance of the launch. The book entered the Eason bestseller list at number two but fell to number four in the second week, being beaten by sales of Paul Howard's latest Ross O'Carroll-Kelly
Ross O'Carroll-Kelly
Ross O'Carroll-Kelly is a fictional wealthy "D4" rugby union player created by journalist Paul Howard.The character first appeared in a January 1998 column in the Sunday Tribune newspaper and later transferred to The Irish Times...
book, a Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver
James "Jamie" Trevor Oliver, MBE , sometimes known as The Naked Chef, is an English chef, restaurateur and media personality, known for his food-focused television shows, cookbooks and more recently his campaign against the use of processed foods in national schools...
cookbook and Johnny Giles
Johnny Giles
Michael John "Johnny" Giles is a former association footballer and manager best remembered for his time as a midfielder with Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s...
's autobiography. By 10 November, JFK in Ireland had sold 1,116 books.
Tax controversy
JFK in Ireland was granted tax-free status, meaning that Tubridy did not have to pay any income tax on the estimated €480,000 he earned from the book. This decision was criticised due to Tubridy's perceived wealth and the large salary he receives from RTÉ. The Revenue granted it a "favourable determination". MEPMember of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
Joe Higgins
Joe Higgins
Joe Higgins is an Irish Socialist Party politician. In the 2011 general election he was elected to Dáil Éireann as Teachta Dála for the Dublin West constituency, having previously served in that capacity from 1997–2007...
said: "The fact that Ryan Tubridy is claiming the exemption is ridiculous, there is no question about that. The rule should be changed, full stop."