Fermanagh should get some credit for new US envoy

Posted By: January 07, 2023

Fermanagh should get some credit for new US envoy

Now that Joe Kennedy III – a future American president – has been confirmed by the US Senate as the Northern Ireland Envoy, Fermanagh should get some of the credit long usurped by Co Wexford.

Fermanagh should get some credit for new US envoy

Fr. Sean McManus. President Irish National Caucus, Washington.

Letters to Editor. Irish News. Belfast. Friday, January 6, 2023.

Now that Joe Kennedy III – a future American president – has been confirmed by the US Senate as the Northern Ireland Envoy, Fermanagh should get some of the credit long usurped by Co Wexford.

Because the distaff side of Joe III’s family is rooted in Fermanagh, just as surely as the spear side (male side) is rooted in Wexford.

The grandmother of Rose Kennedy (1890-1995) – mother of President Kennedy and the beloved Bobby Kennedy (Joe III’s grandfather) – Rosanna Cox was born in the parish of Knockninny circa 1835. (But her father was from the parish of Kinawley, oops, that just slipped in).

Rosanna Cox emigrated to Boston and in 1857 she married Thomas Fitzgerald. One of their 12 children, John F Fitzgerald – best known as Honey Fitz – became a congressman and later the Mayor of Boston. He and his wife had a daughter named Rose, who would marry Joseph P Kennedy – and thus would be born JFK, Bobby, Teddy, ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, etc, etc.

So – as I wrote to Joe III a few years ago – a little less about the Boys of Wexford, and much more about the girl from Fermanagh.

And, by the way, speaking of credit, I must credit Fr Ultan McGooghan, formerly parish priest of Knockninny, and now in Co Cavan for all the original research into the truly remarkable story of Roseanna Cox (whose father was a Kinawley man, oops, it happened again).