Letterkenny has come a step closer to a re-twinning arrangement with Elizabethtown after a successful gathering in Pennsylvania last week.
A conference was held in the Lancaster County town last Saturday to discuss reforming ties with Letterkenny, 10 years after the twinning ended with the dissolution of town councils.
Donnan Harvey, representing Letterkenny’s Cathedral Quarter committee, travelled Stateside to join the event, which was driven by Elizabethtown’s strong desire to reinstate the ties first established 23 years ago.
Pictured above: Steve Larkin, Sean & Brittney Cafferkey, John McDaid, Donnan Harvey and Jeff Winterborne of Elizabethtown Borough Council.
The conference was titled ‘Elizabethtown & Letterkenny – The Sister’s City – Past, Present & Future’ and was held in Elizabethtown Historical Society, introduced by Dixie Kaley, president of the Society.
The conference, attended by local officials and Letterkenny natives now residing in the US, explored shared history and future collaboration. Presentations highlighted historical links, including a talk from Kieran Kelly from the Letterkenny Historical Society about Robert Boyd’s founding of Letterkenny Township, and a talk on the Scots-Irish migration by Theresa StAngelo, director of Winter’s Heritage House Museum.
Kim and Fred Winey with Donnan Harvey
Kim Winey, who visited Donegal, spoke of her experience and the discovery that the sister-city program had lapsed. Letterkenny native Sean Cafferkey and his wife Brittany from Harrisburg, with links to both towns, shared their cross-cultural experiences.
Political representatives from Letterkenny joined via online video. Deputy Mayor Cllr Ciaran Brogan talked about the original agreement, his visits to the Elizabethtown area and the benefits that Letterkenny had.
Mayor of Letterkenny Cllr Gerry McMonagle spoke about the recent renewals in ties between the two areas and how the members are committed to the re-twinning process after the motion in January. Both the mayors praised the efforts of the Cathedral Quarter and Kim who have brought the sister city relationship to the public conscious
The event was brought to a close by the Vice President of Elizabethtown Borough Council Jeff Cloud who similarly praised the efforts of Kim Winey who organised the whole weekend and the visit of Donnan Harvey from the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter.
“The whole visit to Elizabethtown has been a great success with the main event being the conference on Saturday,” said Donnan Harvey.
Mayor Gerry McMonagle addressing the event
Cllr Gerry McMonagle said: “I think it was a very good engagement and reinforced if that was necessary the strong links there is between Elizabethtown and Letterkenny. We will now look forward to cementing those ties in the time ahead and look forward to organising for that to happen.”
Jeff McCloud, Vice President said: “We are thrilled to reestablish our sister city relationship with Letterkenny, and we look forward to sharing our culture and learning from one another. If the response from Donnan’s visit over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend is evidence, I am confident we’ll forge strong bonds.”
Kim Winey said: “Having Donnan Harvey in Elizabethtown, PA to return the warm hospitality that was extended to my sister and I, when we visited Letterkenny, was an honor. We had a full itinerary allowing us to explore not only downtown Etown, but the surrounding areas as well. We were also thrilled to welcome Letterkenny friends – Sean, Brittany, and Baby B Cafferkey, and meet John McDaid and Steve Larkin, former Letterkenny residents who now live in Havertown and West Chester, PA. As we take steps toward officially reestablishing our sister city status, we recognize that these personal connections are what truly matter. History may link us, but it’s the friendships and shared experiences that will carry us forward.”
Letterkenny natives Steve Larkin and John McDaid
