Kennedy Leadership Forum

Last Updated: May 28, 2013

Kennedy Leadership Forum Launched for JFK50 New Ross

The first Kennedy Leadership Forum is due to take place in New Ross over the June bank-holiday weekend ahead of the JFK50 events on June 22.

The Leadership Forum will take place at St. Michael’s Theatre in New Ross from May 31 to June 2.

The forum events are free of charge.Speakers across the three days will include Cathal Goan, Louis de Paor, Nora Casey, Declan Kearney, Matt English, Caitriona Fottrell, Deirdre Garvey, Damien Richardson, Nickey Brennan, Mike Cronin, John Buckley, Maurice Devlin, Michael Barron and George Hook.

You can Download the Programme Of Events here

About

The Kennedy Leadership Forum is a symposium event in honor of one of the world’s greatest leaders, President John F. Kennedy. The event is to honor the memory of JFK and explore what it means to be a leader in the contemporary world. “President John F. Kennedy is remembered in heroic terms, and also, as someone who dealt with the complexities of the Cold War, Civil Rights and the Cuban Missile Crisis, among others, he is viewed as a man who defined what is was to be a leader.

Leadership

On Friday, May 31 the forum will examiner leadership in sport Nickey Brennan, former GAA President, Kilkenny Hurler and executive at hugely successful Glanbia along with Damien Richardson the former manager and TV soccer pundit will discuss ‘what makes a good sporting leader’.

On Saturday June 1st from 10am to noon the topic of youth leadership will be at the fore. Maurice Devlin, Jean Monnet Professor and Director of the Centre will join John Buckley, Youth Engagement Officer from Spun out for Youth Research and Development, NUIM and Michael Barron, Director, BeLonG To. This session is aimed at young people and those who parent them and work with them. The panel will discuss developing Ireland’s youth debates circle around the need for strong role models, for support, opportunity and for leadership.

Leadership in Culture and in Business

On Saturday afternoon ‘Leadership in Culture and in Business’ will be discussed by Cathal Goan, former Director General of RTE and Professor of Media, University of Notre Dame, Louis de Paor, Poet, translator, documentary maker and head of Irish Studies, NUI Galway, Nora Casey Newstalk & Harmonia Publishing, Declan Kearney, Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Aer Lingus and broadcaster and rugby pundit George Hook.

Closing the weekend of leadership discussion will be leaders in the community. Caitriona Fottrell, Irish Head of the American Ireland Funds and Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive Officer, The Wheel, will join Matt English CEO Special Olympics Ireland. This session will discuss the incredible network of community, not for profit and voluntary organizations that span a wide array of fields in Ireland and focus on the skills needed to motivate and lead people in the community, as opposed to profit.

The Kennedy Leadership Forum will take place ahead of the towns planned celebrations for the JFK50, which will take place on June 22 marking the memory and visit of President John F. Kennedy to his ancestral hometown.

Kennedy Legacy Forum

New Ross Town Council, in partnership with Boston College, are in the process of developing the Kennedy Legacy Forum which will promote the ideals and legacy of the Kennedy’s through educational initiatives.

It is envisaged that the Kennedy Legacy Forum events will run throughout the year, with the first of these events already scheduled to take place from 31st May – 2nd June, 2013.

Mission Statement

“To inspire civic leadership through; Promotion, Empowerment and Development”

Goal

The goal of the Kennedy Legacy Forum will be to promote the ideals and legacy of the Kennedys through educational initiatives. Empower and Develop an active citizenship programme that encompasses the philosophy of the New Frontier.

Partnerships

The Kennedy Legacy Forum will establish partnerships with key academic institutions of Ireland, the United States and Europe. The establishment of this partnership will bring an international dimension to the Summer School and will encourage the sharing of ideas, experience and resources.

Tomorrows Leaders

The Kennedy Legacy Forum will actively engage with second level students in a programme of civic and political science, which will afford the participants an opportunity to develop their interest and experience as young leaders.

The Kennedy Legacy Forum will be a vehicle for scholarly debate, peer development and shared learning.

Conclusion

The Kennedy Legacy Forum , through its three pillars of Promotion, Empowerment and Development, will continue the leadership legacy of the Kennedy’s.  Honouring the memory of a family, which has its origins in New Ross, that went on to inspire the world.