Ireland’s first official July 4th celebration was deemed an overwhelming success in New Ross, County Wexford, ancestral home of the Kennedy clan, yesterday.
Highlight of the day was the induction of Irish American actress Fionnula Flanagan into the Irish America Hall of Fame, hosted by Irish America magazine editor Patricia Harty.
Flanagan was joined posthumously by singer Liam Clancy of the famous Clancy Brothers.
The town also featured a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party, a concert by Irish American comedian Des Bishop and an American football game.
The Boston Tea Party reprise came on the Dunbrody, the famine replica ship docked in the harbor in New Ross.
The US Declaration of Independence was read out at noon and the day was capped off with an outdoor concert at the JFK Arboretum by The Three Tenors and Declan O’Rourke.
Meanwhile, in Dublin, US Ambassador Dan Rooney hosted a party for 2,500 revelers which featured skydivers and an American football game.
Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny also attended the festivities. Ambassador Rooney stated that US investors still had confidence in Ireland.
"I have travelled all over Ireland and visited every county. US confidence in Ireland's economy has never wavered and our investment in Ireland's future remains strong," Rooney said yesterday.
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