John F. Kennedy Arboretum

The John F. Kennedy Arboretum is Ireland's national arboretum, a 252-hectare living collection of trees and shrubs located near New Ross in County Wexford, dedicated to the memory of President John F. Kennedy, whose great-grandfather Patrick Kennedy emigrated to America from the nearby village of Dunganstown. Established as a memorial following the President's assassination in 1963, the arboretum was formally opened by President Eamon de Valera on 29 May 1968. Today it holds over 5,000 varieties of trees and shrubs from all temperate regions of the world, making it the largest catalogued tree collection in Ireland. Owned by the Office of Public Works and managed by the National Botanic Gardens, the arboretum rises from 36 meters at its southern boundary to 271 meters at the summit of Slieve Coillte, offering panoramic views across six counties.