Kanye West believes he is the "worst celebrity" because he focuses solely on making real and inspiring music instead of seeking fame. A Gaelic football legend warns that a player will be killed if violence on the pitch is not stopped, citing a recent game where two players were seriously injured. The 1963 visit of President John F. Kennedy to Ireland is remembered as one of the most famous homecomings in history, as he received rapturous welcomes wherever he went and strengthened the bond between Ireland and America through his pride in his Irish ancestry.

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Kanye’s
too ‘real’
RAPPER Kanye West has
revealed he thinks he is
“the worst celebrity”.
The Stronger hitmaker,
35, launched into a
bizarre rap-rant during
his performance in New
York this week, in which
he insisted he is too
“real” to be thought of
as a fame seeker.
He said: “I’m the worst
kinda celebrity because
all I do is make real
music. All I do is sit in
the studio and make real,
real s**t. And that’s moth-
erf***ing it.”
The star, who is expect-
ing his first child with
girlfriend Kim
Kardashian, added: “I’m
trying to make music
that inspires people to be
the best they can be.”
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A GAA legend has
warned someone will
“end up in a coffin” if
“thuggery” is not stopped
on the pitch.
Donegal hero Manus
Boyle said a player “will
be killed” unless the
GAA tackles violence in
the game.
He was speaking after
a young player, Ronan
Lennon, suffered serious
facial injuries in a match
in Letterkenny last week-
end in which a Naomh
Conaill player was also
hospitalised.
Boyle added: “Regretta-
bly, what we witnessed
last weekend is not an
isolated incident — it is
happening practically
every weekend.”
‘GAAlads
could die’
By MARTIN DUFFY
THE arrival of
Air Force One at Dub-
lin Airport in 1963 sig-
nalled the start of one of
the most famous home-
comings in history.
Within minutes John F Ken-
nedy stepped off the plane to
face the ranks of an official
welcoming party — and the
unrestrained cheers from hun-
dreds of well-wishers lining the
terminal’s balcony.
The public outpouring of affection
on that June 26 morning was to be
just a taster of the Kennedy mania
that gripped the nation for the next
four days.
Pathe News footage shows a sea of
250,000 people waving tricolours and
star-spangled banners as the motor-
cade of America’s first Irish Catholic
President made its way down O’Con-
nell Street.
Charisma
And the rapturous welcome for a
visiting head of state — still unsur-
passed today — was to be played out
again and again as JFK toured his
ancestral homeland.
Now, almost 50 years later, his
loyal Irish fan base is once again
preparing to celebrate the politician
they believe to be the greatest of all
time.
For his cousin Patrick Grennan,
JFK’s famous visit is never far from
his memory.
He said: “He was surely one of
the most iconic figures of the 20th
century. It’s no secret that so
many have tried to emulate
his charisma and charm —
something he was surely
given from the Irish side
of the family.”
Patrick, whose grand-
mother was the cousin
of JFK’s grandfather,
went on: “The links
strengthened when the
president stood in his
ancestors’ humble peas-
ant homestead.
“It showed he was
proud of it and of
who he was, and
showed 25 million
other US citizens that they could be
proud of who they were.”
Kennedy’s visit undoubtedly
strengthened the bond between Ire-
land and America.
To many families who had seen
loved ones emigrate, his presence
was a symbolic message showing
how their sons and daughters could
live the American dream.
The Dail stood in awe as Ireland’s
long-lost son spoke of the “strong
religious faith and desire for liberty”
passed down to him by his ances-
tors. And tears flowed as he com-
memorated those who lay at rest at
Arbour Hill, and during a visit to
his grandfather’s hometown of New
Ross, Co Wexford.
JFK — the first ever US President
to make an official visit here — also
spent time at the Phoenix Park,
Cabra Castle, Waterford Crystal, Gal-
way City, Connemara, Kilbeggan Dis-
tillery and the Cliffs of Moher.
At each stop, he incorporated his
‘Irish Pride’ into every one of his
speeches.
Joe Hall, 61, who was in New
Ross to shake hands with the great
man, recalled: “I was 11 at the time
so all I remember is that he was
very tanned, which was unusual for
us folk.
“I remember he smiled a lot and
the people all seemed to love him.
Maybe just because he was famous,
but I generally think he had a great
likeability to him.
“I don’t think that the enormity of
what was happening really sunk in
on the day. New Ross is a bit of a
back-water town, so to see crowds
that size was a very unique and sur-
real image.”
Joe added: “There has always been
a tradition of Irish people emigrat-
ing to the States, ever since the
Potato Famine. I believe that the
link with JFK and his return really
has made this tradition stronger.
“Kennedy left a great legacy
behind and will always be remem-
bered as an inspirational leader and
a truly good person.”
And with a host of events lined
up over the summer to mark the
50th anniversary, cousin Patrick says
he still gives thanks for his link to
the man.
He said: “I hold a great sense of
pride knowing that I am somehow
related to such an inspirational
leader.” irishsun@the-sun.ie
EVENTS marking the historic visitbegin on June 23 when the Gath-ering Torch, lit from JFK EternalFlame at Arlington Cemetery — isparaded in New Ross, Wexford.
Q June 27 — the Kennedy Home-stead Gathering Event commemo-rates President Kennedy’s visit tohis ancestral home.
Q July 4 — JFK Trust throws an‘Irish America Day’ bash at theBrandon House Hotel, New Ross.Visit jfk50ireland.com for moreinformation.
VISIT . . . from top, with
De Valera, cousin Mary
Ryan, wife Jackie and,
below, cousin Pat meets
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
HOMECOMING . . . with relatives at family homestead in New RossGREAT ORATOR . . . JFK giving a gripping speech on his Irish prideMAN OF THE PEOPLE. . . sharing a joke with local dignitaries in Cork
MOTORCADE . . . JFK
travelling in open-top
car through Dublin Gathering’s
hotting up
30 Sunday, May 19, 2013 Sunday, May 19, 2013 31