Irish sports commentator Michael O’Hehir happened to be in New York when the news broke that President Kennedy had been shot dead. He phoned in this report to RTÉ an hour later, describing the shock and confusion in the United States.

O’Hehir says that the president’s motorcade was going through Dallas, Texas when an assassin opened fire. "President Kennedy slumped onto the lap of Mrs Kennedy, who was sitting beside him and she was heard to scream 'oh no'." Governor Connolly of Texas was also seriously wounded and they were rushed to hospital, where President Kennedy received the last rites.

O’Hehir talks about how already the news has hit people on the streets of New York, who are in groups around transistor radios, "and men and women weeping with the news coming over that radio that the president had died". It has just been reported that a man has been arrested.

A  news report for RTÉ by Michael O'Hehir.

This report was broadcast on Radio Éireann on 22 November 1963.

The accompanying image is from the RTÉ Guide, 19 November, 1993.

Copyright RTÉ. This material may not be replicated in any form or manner without the prior express permission of RTÉ. Any form of reproduction in print, television, video, multimedia, web site or other electronic media or any form of dissemination for commercial or non-commercial use must be licensed by the RTÉ Archives.

If you wish to licence video or audio clips, still images or text, or would like further guidance please contact us.

RTÉ Archives are committed to respecting the copyright of others and have attempted to source and credit the copyright owners of all material used here. RTÉ would like to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified here so that the necessary corrections can be made. If you feel your copyright has not been respected please contact us.