‘Isn’t he the image of Honey Fitz?’

It is now widely accepted that US president John F Kennedy would never have visited Limerick in 1963 were it not for the persistence of Mayor Frances Condell.

The first woman to hold theoffice in its 750 year history, she was hugely disappointed when it became known that Kennedy would be unable to include the city in his schedule.

All seemed lost when White House press secretary Pierre Salinger flew into Shannon Airport on Jun 14, a mere 12 days before Kennedy’s arrival, to make final arrangements.