Local councillors invited to US ahead of St Patrick’s Day
The establishment of formal ties between Athlone and Providence, in Rhode Island, is to be explored after an invitation was extended for two local councillors to attend a reception in the US city ahead of St Patrick's Day.
Ballydangan native Patrick Griffin is the President of the St Patrick's Day parade committee in his adopted home of Providence, where he has been running Patrick's Pub for the last 30 years.
In a letter which was outlined at this month's meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, Mr Griffin invited the Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, and the Mayor of the Athlone Moate district, Cllr Vinny McCormack, to Providence in early March.
The two local Fianna Fáil councillors were invited to attend a Grand Marshall's Dinner Show and Reception which is being held there on Thursday, March 2.
In the letter, Mr Griffin said he was hoping the occasion could be used to "formalise and advance plans for a twinning arrangement between the cities of Providence and Athlone".
His letter mentioned that an 'Athlone Sister Cities Committee' was being established, which was being chaired by Cllr O'Rourke and included secretary and liaison officer John Henson; cultural officer Caoimhe O'Connell; Alan Shaw, representing industry, tourism and commerce; and a university and education representative yet to be named.
Mr Henson said the members of the Athlone Sister Cities Committee would also be welcome to visit in March.
"During your visit we would be happy to help facilitate meetings you may wish to have with officials from the city of Providence to promote our mutual ambition to formally twin the city of Athlone with Providence," Mr Griffin stated.
Cllr O'Rourke, and his party colleague Cllr Frankie Keena, previously took up invitations to attend St Patrick's Day events in Providence prior to the pandemic.
At this month's meeting of the Athlone Moate District, Cllr O'Rourke mentioned that he had attended a presentation for county council chairpersons in the Mansion House last year.
He recalled that, at this reception, it was stated that there were "seven or eight provincial towns in Ireland that had no formal linkage with the USA - and two of those were Athlone and Mullingar."
This fact "stuck out like a sore thumb," Cllr O'Rourke said. "While we have strong, yet informal, links with Providence, I thought this was an opportunity to have a conversation with Providence, which I've had in recent months.
"In fairness, this whole Sister Cities project is being led by the USA. They want tighter links with Ireland, which is fantastic, and we'll be exploring whatever opportunities present themselves whether they're cultural, educational, economic or sporting," he said.
Director of Services Barry Kehoe said the council was in favour of Cllrs O'Rourke and McCormack travelling to Providence, but he asked for this to be put on an agenda to be formally approved at a meeting next month.