The Best of Both Worlds Ryan Kennedy ’15 lives in the best of both worlds. Born and raised in Maspeth, Queens, his school year is devoted to academics and basketball, while he spends nearly every summer in County Clare, Ireland. “It’s where most of our family lives,” said Kennedy, who was the sole returning starter to the Knights varsity basketball team and a member of the 2014 Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) city championship squad. “I have more family members in Ireland than here.” “HAP really shifted my decision John and Catherine about where I was going to go to Kennedy P’15 met at a hurling match in 1994 at high school. I wanted to get away Gaelic Park in Riverdale. from the distractions and focus Mrs. Kennedy was born in the United States, on what’s really important.” but her family moved to Ireland when she was 4. Kennedy’s maternal grandparents own and operate a bed and breakfast in Lisdoonvarna, a small town famous for its music and festivals. Mr. Kennedy came to New York at 19, started working in construction, and then opened his own company. For Kennedy, the road to Xavier began at Saint Adalbert School in Elmhurst, Queens, when the principal suggested he attend HAP at Xavier. “HAP really shifted my decision about where I was going to go to high school,” he said. While his friends made plans to attend high school in Queens, “I wanted to get away from the distractions and focus on what’s really important.” For Kennedy, that is school, basketball, friends, and family. His parents rarely miss a game. Since Kennedy has verbally committed to a full scholarship to play basketball at Queens College, they can continue to cheer him on in person next year. Jesuit education, Kennedy noted, has prepared him for the next step. “It’s made me want to be a better person. It’s also kept me more focused on what I want to do with the rest of my life as opposed to just having fun right now,” he said.
XAVIER MAGAZINE
Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, Ireland
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