Tributes to Ethel Kennedy, activist and widow of Robert F Kennedy

Tánaiste Micheál Martin pays tribute to Ms Kennedy, who 'lived a remarkable life, dedicating herself to her family, and to social justice'

Ethel Kennedy passed away on Thursday morning following complications from a stroke. Picture: Karen Cooper 

Ethel Kennedy, the activist and widow of Senator Robert F Kennedy, has died aged 96.

She passed away on Thursday morning following complications from a stroke.

Throughout her life Ms Kennedy remained dedicated to human rights. After her husband’s death, she founded the non-profit organisation Robert F Kennedy Human Rights and raised their 11 children alone.

Her grandson, Joe Kennedy III, announced the news on social media.

“It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our amazing grandmother, Ethel Kennedy. She died this morning from complications related to a stroke suffered last week,” Mr Kennedy wrote on X.

Along with a lifetime's work in social justice and human rights, our mother leaves behind nine children, 34 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom love her dearly. 

"She was a devout Catholic and a daily communicant, and we are comforted in knowing she is reunited with the love of her life, our father, Robert F Kennedy; her children David and Michael; her daughter-in-law Mary; her grandchildren Maeve and Saoirse; and her great-grandchildren Gideon and Josie. Please keep her in your hearts and prayers,” he said.

Ethel Kennedy carried on her husband’s work, founding the Robert F Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights in the months after his assassination. Picture: Karen Cooper

Tánaiste Micheál Martin paid tribute to Ms Kennedy, who “lived a remarkable life”.

“It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Ethel Kennedy. She lived a remarkable life, dedicating herself to her family, and to social justice. Ethel Kennedy carried on her husband’s work, founding the Robert F Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights in the months after his assassination. Her role in the development of the organisation is a testament to her dedication to improving the lives of others,” he said in a statement.

She was a tireless advocate for the rights of migrant workers, the rights of Native Americans, and a variety of environmental causes, as well as a political force in her own right, playing important roles in the various congressional, senate, and presidential campaigns undertaken by her husband and her brother in law.

“Over the course of her life, Ethel Kennedy exemplified the extraordinary commitment to public service we associate with the Kennedy family. Her inspiration and shining example is evident in contributions to political and public life of many of her children and grandchildren,” he added.

The Tánaiste also recalled the words of former US president  Barack Obama, who awarded Ms Kennedy the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. 

“Ethel Kennedy has dedicated her life to advancing the cause of social justice, human rights, environmental protection, and poverty reduction by creating countless ripples of hope to effect change around the world,” Mr Obama said at the time.

US president Joe Biden also paid tribute to the "American icon".

"Ethel Kennedy was an American icon — a matriarch of optimism and moral courage, an emblem of resilience and service. Devoted to family and country, she had a spine of steel and a heart of gold that inspired millions of Americans, including me and Jill. We were blessed to call her a dear friend," he wrote in a statement.