John F Kennedy got 'the greatest reception' in Cork: Remembering JFK's visit to Leeside
![John F Kennedy got 'the greatest reception' in Cork: Remembering JFK's visit to Leeside John F Kennedy got 'the greatest reception' in Cork: Remembering JFK's visit to Leeside](/cms_media/module_img/7714/3857173_11_articlesmall_860838.jpg)
John F Kennedy is driven through St Patrick's Street in an open-top car with Lord Mayor Sean Casey, during his visit to Cork. File picture
The flags have been been furled, the barriers have been taken away, the crowds have gone home. The final curtain has gone down on the biggest spectacle Cork has ever seen — the visit of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, president of the United States of America yesterday (June 28, 1963).
![President Kennedy pictured on the steps of Cork City Hall during his Irish visit in 1963. President Kennedy pictured on the steps of Cork City Hall during his Irish visit in 1963.](https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7714/3857149_7_articleinline_292086.jpg)
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![President Kennedy arrives in Cork, Collins Barracks. President Kennedy arrives in Cork, Collins Barracks.](https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7714/3857152_7_articleinline_1530304.jpg)
![Crowds ahead of President Kennedy visit to Cork. File picture: Kevin Cummins Crowds ahead of President Kennedy visit to Cork. File picture: Kevin Cummins](https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7714/3857155_7_articleinline_1529957_281_29.jpg)
![President Kennedy in the crowd in Cork during his visit to Ireland. File picture: Aubrey Hart/Getty Images President Kennedy in the crowd in Cork during his visit to Ireland. File picture: Aubrey Hart/Getty Images](https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7714/3857158_7_articleinline_GettyImages-2630127.jpg)
A roar resounding from outside the City Hall heralded the arrival of the motorcade. Outside, of the quaysides there were tremendous scenes of excitement, for as the president’s open car pulled up outside the entrance of the City Hall, the thousands who had been watching the procession through the centre of the city swarmed to vantage points around the focal point.
![President Kennedy of the USA is almost lost among a crowd of well-wishers during his visit to Cork. File picture: Keystone/Getty Images President Kennedy of the USA is almost lost among a crowd of well-wishers during his visit to Cork. File picture: Keystone/Getty Images](https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7714/3857161_7_articleinline_GettyImages-3320645_281_29.jpg)
Within minutes the entire of Lapp’s Quay, opposite the City Hall, was solidly jammed with wildly-cheering people. Outside the cordons, at either end of City Hall, the people poured in on top of the scores of gardaí who stove manfully to prevent them breaking through.
On the rooftops they were perched and on the parapets on both Parnell and Clontarf Bridges, hundreds of men and youths hung precariously. To cope with any possible accidents from such a dangerous situation, lifeguards were in position on boats on the river between the bridges.
The members of the Corporation, in their scarlet robes, were assembled on the City Hall steps and were introduced by the Lord Mayor to the president. As he made his way through the auditorium, a storm of cheering broke out as the huge attendance rose to its feet to acclaim the distinguished visitor applauding deliriously and waving their American hand flags.
On his way to City Hall, the president was introduced to a group of relatives from West Cork — Richard D Fitzpatrick, Richard P Fitzpatrick and Patrick Fitzpatrick.
![President Kennedy speaking at Cork City Hall during his visit to the city in June 1963. President Kennedy speaking at Cork City Hall during his visit to the city in June 1963.](https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7714/3857164_26_articleinline_860804.jpg)
The president greeted them warmly and expressed the hope that he would meet them again before he departed.
The proceedings began formally with the Town Clerk calling the roll of the Corporation members.
The Lord Mayor announced that this was a special meeting of the Corporation convened to confer the Freedom of the City on President Kennedy.
![President Kennedy at Cork City Hall with Lord Mayor of Cork Sean Casey. File picture President Kennedy at Cork City Hall with Lord Mayor of Cork Sean Casey. File picture](https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7714/3857167_7_articleinline_860841_281_29.jpg)
Meanwhile, the ever-swelling crowds in the vicinity of City Hall were impatiently awaiting the reappearance of the president. They began to chant “We want Jack” and when they saw the pressmen and photographers rushing out of City Hall they began to push forward and break through the police cordon.
Determined gardaí and more determined spectators scrummaged and while the police line held, a number of people succeeded in breaking through. These were amongst the enthusiastic group that mobbed the president who had attended a brief reception in the Lord Mayor’s room.
St John’s Ambulance Brigade and Red Cross workers treated a number of people who were hurt in the crush.
![President Kennedy President Kennedy](https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7714/3857170_7_articleinline_1493983_281_29.jpg)
The president, in fact, nearly became a casualty. He tripped and fell back on his seat in his car, but quickly regained his feet and continued his now famous gesture of spontaneous hand-shaking as the motorcade made its way to Monaghan Road to reach his helicopter for his return flight to Dublin.
- Adpated from an article first published in the Cork Examiner June 29, 1963