Dozens of descendants from the world’s most famous political dynasty gathered today at a farmhouse in Ireland to mark the day John F Kennedy came back to his ancestral home.

A flame taken from the eternal one on US president John F Kennedy’s grave has arrived in Ireland as part of events to mark 50 years since his visit.

THE four-day visit to Ireland by US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Jun 1963 is seen as a turning point in the country’s modern history, writes Ray Ryan

Dancer and musician Michael Flatley, author Colm Tóibín, and tenor Michael Londra have been confirmed as part of Irish celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s visit.

Technology specialists behind the London 2012 Olympic Torch have arrived in New Ross to work on the newly built Emigrant Flame, which will be lit by members of the Kennedy family and the Taoiseach this summer.

The people behind an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s visit to Ireland said they are “cautiously optimistic” that president Barack Obama will take part in the celebrations in Wexford this June.

Former Irish President Mary McAleese and her husband, Senator Martin McAleese, are both to be awarded with the prestigious Tipperary International Peace Award for 2011 this morning.

There’s another Kennedy running for Congress, and a day after he had officially launched his campaign, Joseph P Kennedy III got some advice from a man who knows a thing or two about winning elections.

Barack Obama honoured a predecessor, Germany’s leader and artists, athletes, civil rights activists, humanitarians and others with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for contributions to society that he said spoke to “who we are as a people”.

THE Afghan human rights campaigner named as the latest winner of the Tipperary Peace Award has said the honour will be an inspiration to women in her country.

Former President Mary Robinson is on a shortlist drawn up for the 2010 Tipperary International Peace Award, it was revealed today.

Senator Ted Kennedy and his sister, former US ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith, were recognised today with the Tipperary International Peace Award for their support for the Northern Ireland peace process.

When Jean came in to my office in Iveagh House she was taken aback and moved to see my photo of her brothers. On leaving Ireland after her term as ambassador she kindly gave me a gift of one of her own photos of the three brothers at home.

DUBLINERS raised glasses in pubs and signed a book of condolence at the US Embassy yesterday in heartfelt tributes to Senator Edward Kennedy.

TED Kennedy wasn’t Jack and he wasn’t Bobby but, despite growing tarnished and growing old, he achieved more than both of them put together, particularly when it came to Ireland.

PRESIDENT John F Kennedy’s sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who carried on the family’s public service tradition by founding the Special Olympics and championing the rights of mentally disabled people, died early yesterday surrounded by relatives at a Hyannis hospital. She was 88.

The 88-year-old sister of President John F Kennedy was fighting for her life in hospital today.

YOUR mild rebuke (Editorial, March 6) of the Irish State for its failure in not having an honours system in place whereby we could officially acknowledge the contribution made to it by those deemed as worthy recipients is unwarranted.

THE lord mayor of Cork has the Terminator in his sights.

The sister of assassinated US president, John F Kennedy is to unveil a statue of her brother in Co Wexford today.

A PAINTING by Marilyn Monroe has been auctioned off with her personal phone book with numbers for Frank Sinatra, Jack Benny and scores of other celebrities for over $150,000 (€123,000) in Los Angeles.

FANCY living like a lord on the banks of the River Blackwater? — then here’s your chance. Mallow Castle comes on the market this week with a €7 million-plus price tag.

THE original ‘Woman of Aran’ died yesterday in a nursing home in Galway, aged 109.

IT'S NOT plain sailing but not all vessels are having as tough a time as the Jeanie Johnston.

Thousands of people have attended the breakfast time launch of the replica famine ship Dunbrody in New Ross.