THE PROJECTED cost of developing a visitor attraction to commemorate the late Ted Kennedy is about €1.5 million, according to Wexford TD Sean Connick. A state of the art visitors’ centre is one of the possibilities mooted for the development of the Kennedy’s ancestral home of Dunganstown, Co Wexford.
Mr Connick said that “rough costings” for the project, which would include road improvements leading to the site, ran to €1.5 million. Welcoming the announcement, he said the link was an integral part of the history of the area. “The development of the Kennedy homestead is a great opportunity to develop tourism in Wexford.” This “authentic” site would add to existing attractions such as the JFK Aboretum, and the Dunbrody emigrant ship, he said.
A spokesman for the Office of Public Works said it would begin the consultation process with the owners of the existing Kennedy homestead in the coming weeks, but said details of the nature and cost of the development were not yet known.
The Kennedy homestead, from where the family’s forefathers emigrated in the early 19th century, attracts some 8,000 visitors a year.Its owner, a descendant of the Kennedy family, Patrick Grennan, hopes plans to develop it will attract many more US and international visitors.
Mr Grennan, a third cousin to Ted Kennedy, said there was “massive potential” to significantly increase tourism to the southeast, adding that the reaction locally had been “very positive”.
The wheels were set in motion for the development last year when Jean Kennedy Smith came to unveil a statue of her brother John F Kennedy.
According to Mr Grennan, she asked that something be done to “properly commemorate the Kennedy legacy” in the area. Minister Brian Lenihan also attended the ceremony.