- The Kennedy Summer School takes place in New Ross from August 26-29, 2026
- Saturday’s events, the Speakers’ Lunch and Kennedy Afternoon Tea Party are sold out
- Ireland’s Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason opens the Summer School
- Maria Cardona, Democratic strategist and CNN commentator, speaks on Saturday
- Topics include Ireland-US relations, online safety, hurling, journalism and literature
The countdown is on to the 2026 Kennedy Summer School, with New Ross preparing to welcome a major line-up of political, business, diplomatic, academic, media, sporting and cultural figures for four days of discussion, debate and events from August 26-29. Now firmly established as one of Ireland’s leading festivals of ideas, the Kennedy Summer School brings together voices from Ireland, the United States and beyond, with this year’s programme exploring Ireland-US relations, global competitiveness, American politics, online safety, journalism, literature, music and the future of hurling. A precursor to the official programme takes place on Wednesday, August 26 with the Trade and Economic Forum at Brandon House Hotel.
The main Summer School programme runs from Thursday, August 27 to Saturday, August 29, beginning with a Schools STEM Event at the John F. Kennedy Arboretum, followed by the Kennedy Afternoon Tea Party inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s historic visit to Ireland in 1963. Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason, officially opens the Summer School at St Michael’s Theatre on Thursday evening before joining Professor Mary C. Murphy of Boston College for a fireside conversation on the political, cultural and economic relationship between Ireland and the United States. The opening day also features Voices of Irish Writers and a short piano recital by Finghin Collins, with sport taking centre stage with Talking Hurling.
Friday features the annual Speakers’ Lunch with acclaimed foreign correspondent Lara Marlowe, while on Saturday at St Michael’s Theatre, Democratic strategist and CNN political commentator Maria Cardona brings her first-hand experience of American politics to discussions examining the future of the transatlantic relationship. The programme also addresses major issues facing Irish society including children’s online safety, with a panel chaired by Sinéad McSweeney and featuring Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon. Saturday’s events, the Speakers’ Lunch and the Kennedy Afternoon Tea Party are now sold out, with a very limited number of tickets remaining for the Thursday evening and Friday evening programmes.
Eileen Dunne, Chairperson of the Kennedy Summer School, shared: “The Kennedy Summer School has always been about bringing people together through ideas, culture and conversation, and this year’s programme reflects that spirit across an extraordinarily wide range of subjects.”
Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States, shared: “I am delighted to open the Kennedy Summer School and discuss the enduring political, cultural and economic relationship between Ireland and the United States.”
Maria Cardona, Democratic strategist and CNN political commentator, shared: “I look forward to examining the future of the transatlantic relationship and the changing US political landscape ahead of the midterm elections.”
