The Visit

Synopsis

The Frantic Preparations For The Visit Of John Fitzgerald Kennedy To His Hometown In Ireland Are Largely Seen Through The Eyes Of Martin Moroney And Eileen Blayney Who Are Beginning To Fall In Love. The Mayor Of The Town, New Ross, Has To Use All Of His Considerable Skills To Keep A Sense Of Order And Decorum. He Knows That The Eyes Of The World Will Be On Them. An Aggressive Cia Advance Party Causes Much Grief And Forces The Town Council To Change Its Plans For 'security' Reasons. The Events Are Keenly Observed By Martin And Eileen Who 'come Of Age' Against The Background Of The Visit. In A Sense, The Town Itself Begins To Come Of Age. The World's Press Begins To Arrive. Four Days Before The Visit A Man Checks Into The Local Hotel And Registers Under The Name Of L.h. Oswald. Despite Many Difficulties, The Visit Is An Outstanding Success. Like The Return Of Ulysses, It Is The Stuff Of Myth. Five Months Later, Jfk Is Assassinated In Dallas. The Town Goes Into Mourning And Martin And Eileen Are Forced To Confront Newly-awakened Demons.