USS Ronald Reagan salutes former American president’s ancestral home

THE new aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, has saluted Ballyporeen, the ancestral home of the former American president whose name it proudly bears.

US vice president Dick Cheney performed the commissioning ceremony of the $4.5 billion dollar nuclear powered carrier last July, but it had earlier made contact with the South Tipperary parish.

The carrier’s Command Master Chief Robert T Conklin wrote to South Tipperary County Council asking if a relationship could be established with the former president’s ancestral place and the USS Ronald Reagan.

Detailed contacts followed including many with Con Donovan, a former county councillor from Ballyporeen, who was among those who welcomed President Reagan to the parish on his two-hour homecoming visit in 1984.

Now, those links have been formalised with a visit to Ballyporeen by Master Chief Conklin and his wife Kathleen, who were accorded a civic welcome in the Parochial Hall, beside the Ronald Reagan Centre.

The couple also visited the Ronald Reagan Lounge, across the road, where John and Mary O’Farrell were hosts to Reagan and his wife Nancy during their visit 19 years ago.

Master Chief Conklin said it was a very special occasion through which the people of Ballyporeen and the men and women that make up the crew of the USS Ronald Reagan formally recognised a unique bond.

The carrier, which has a top speed of over 30 knots, is powered by two nuclear reactors that can operate for more than 20 years without refuelling.

Expected to operate in the US Navy fleet for about 50 years, the ship has over 80 combat aircraft and towers 20 stories above the waterline.

It is 1,092 feet long, nearly as long as the Empire State Building in New York is tall, and has a flight deck covering 4.5 acres.

The carrier is home to about 6,000 Navy personnel, has enough food and supplies to operate for three months.

Former first lady Nancy Reagan christened the ship on the 49th anniversary of her marriage to Ronald Reagan and in the presence of US President George W Bush.

Reagan’s eldest son, Michael Reagan, was on deck late last year to welcome the crew as they began moving aboard the ship named after his father.

Master Chief Conklin told the people of Ballyporeen that the sons and daughters of Ireland have made significant contributions to US history.

Nine of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish ancestry. Four were born in Ireland.

Twenty generals in the Revolutionary Army were of Irish ancestry. George Washington’s personal staff included Generals Moylan and Fitzgerald. And on the high seas, Commodore John Barry, considered by many to be the father of the United States Navy, was born in Wexford.

Captain Jeremiah O’Brien, whose father Maurice was from Cork, captured a British schooner in the first naval engagement of the American Revolution.

The Irish connection continued with John Phillip Holland, from Liscannor, Co Clare, who planned the design for a submarine and is regarded as the father of the US Navy’s submarine service.

Master Chief Conklin presented a photograph of the USS Ronald Reagan to Ballyporeen on behalf of his commanding officer, Captain Jim Symonds, executive officer Captain Drew Brugal and the crew of the carrier.

He was in turn made a presentation and was also entertained by Mitchelstown Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann members.