FROM NOON, a fleet of gleaming, chauffeur-driven Mercs and BMWs disgorged leading figures from the Irish establishment onto the forecourt of the Ballykisteen Hotel and Golf Resort near Tipperary town. And then the Kennedys arrived – by minibus.
Three generations of Irish-America’s leading family stepped out into warm sunshine and a scrum of photographers. Protocol was relaxed and the motley greeting party included chain-wearing dignitaries, Tipperary Peace Convention committee members, and a pride of politicians waiting to pounce.
A heavyweight Fianna Fáil contingent was somehow outmanoeuvred by former GAA president and Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly who cleverly managed to chaperone the leading ladies – Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and Victoria Kennedy – to a red carpet "photo-op". The CJ Kickham Brass and Reed Band duly struck up It's A Long Way To Tipperaryto the delight of the clapping Americans.
In the hotel lobby on Saturday, guests milled about informally. William Kennedy Smith (49), a physician in Washington DC, remarked that Ireland was “something of an ark” for the extended family and this visit, to see his mother and late uncle honoured by the Tipperary International Peace Award, was “very meaningful”. The event marked the largest-ever gathering of members of the Kennedy family on Irish soil. His sister, Amanda Hood (43) introduced her children Stephanie (8) and Sumner (5) and said it was “important that the younger children see where we all come from”.
Former Hollywood star Maureen O'Hara arrived in a wheelchair and almost stole the limelight. The woman who is best known for starring in The Quiet Manwith John Wayne said she would be 90 in August and "would love to live to be 102".
Albert Reynolds reminisced amicably about the property boom, when he sold his house on Ailesbury Road in Dublin (for €14 million), and observed: “I wouldn’t get it now”. A relaxed Bertie Ahern, sporting a blue velvet jacket, mingled happily. In the banqueting hall, tables were decorated in red, white and blue.
At one, a US marine was seated between the Church of Ireland’s Dean of Cashel and a tiara-topped beauty queen adorned with a sash declaring her to be the “Pride of Tipperary 2009”.
Nearby, a clutch of ambassadors sat next to Tipperary South Fine Gael TD Tom Hayes who confirmed that he eats his "dinner in the middle of the day" – despite wearing Miami Vicepale linen.
Some 200 guests tucked into lunch from a menu featuring New England-style clam chowder, grilled prime fillet steak with Cashel Blue cheese, and, in a nod to the Kennedy family’s roots, fresh Wexford strawberries with quenelle of home-made Bourbon vanilla ice cream and fresh mint sprig martini style.
Guests were serenaded by bass baritone Derek Ryan whose repertoire, inevitably, included Danny Boyand My Way. He concluded by singing both national anthems.
As the Star Spangled Bannerrang out, Maureen O'Hara stood to attention. Both the Kennedy women received standing ovations during the award ceremony and were each presented with a Tipperary Crystal cup – the size of the Sam Maguire. As he waved them off to New Ross, Seán Kelly looked pleased as punch and revealed to The Irish Times,with a sigh, that Maureen O'Hara had kissed him "on the cheek". He "won't wash it for a week".