Achill and Cleveland to celebrate 20th anniversary of twinning

A WEEKEND of celebrations will take place in Achill this weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of the twinning of Achill and the city of Cleveland.

The official twinning of Mayo County Council, Achill and Cleveland occurred in 2003 when the then Mayor of Cleveland, Jane Campbell travelled to Achill for the former twinning ceremony.

A weekend of activities are planned in Achill this weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of the prestigious occasion with over 30 people from Cleveland travelling to Achill for the celebrations.

The celebrations will begin tomorrow (Friday) afternoon when Mayo County Council will host a civic reception in Áras an Chontae, Castlebar starting at 4pm. The civic reception will be accorded to Gerry Quinn, the founder and President of the Mayo Society of Cleveland, as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations.

Mr Quinn is a native of Garracloon outside Ballina and one of the leading figures among the sizable Irish community in Cleveland. As well as being the founder of the Mayo Society of Cleveland, Mr Quinn was one of the founding members of Cleveland's Irish American Club in 1978.

His weekly show, Gerry Quinn Irish Radio is 31 years on the air and has received the Achievement in Radio Award (AIR) and was named Best Ethnic Program in Northeast Ohio.

This weekend, he will broadcast his radio show live from the gteic digital hub in Achill Sound at 3pm on Sunday, September 10.

Among the highlights of the weekend's celebrations will be the unveiling of a bench and plaque along the newly opened Greenway in Achill Sound and on Saturday evening, September 9,  a 20th anniversary celebration dinner will take place in Óstán Oileán Acla.

The links between Achill and Cleveland extend back to the nineteenth century when Achill people emigrated in huge numbers to Cleveland to find work. They largely settled in an area known as 'The Angle' and the population flourished around St Malachi Parish in the later part of the nineteenth century.

The Angle raised countless numbers of distinguished sons, such as Tom Patton, a president of Republic Steel, as well as the renowned boxer, Johnny Kilbane who held the World Featherweight title from 1912 to 1923, the longest period in the division's history.

Cleveland remained a destination of choice for many Achill emigrants throughout the 20th century and many people of Achill descent rose to prominent positions in the political, judicial and trade union movement. It is estimated that 200,000 out of the total Cleveland population claim Achill ancestry and the links have always remained strong down through the years.

The twinning of Cleveland with Mayo and Achill was spearheaded by the late Steve Mulloy, a native of Keel on Achill Island, who persuaded the civic leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to establish formal links.

Earlier this year, the current Mayor of Cleveland, Justin Bibb, took time out of a trade mission to Ireland to travel to Achill with a delegation of 14 city officials in recognition of the contribution Achill people have made and continue to make in Cleveland.

Terence Dever, CEO of Comhlacht Forbartha Áitiúil Acla (CFÁA), the local development company in Achill said that there was great pride in the community with what has been achieved through the twinning over the last 20 years and looked forward to welcoming the Cleveland delegation to the island.

Tickets for the celebration dinner in Óstán Oileán Acla are still available and anyone wishing to attend is asked to contact the CFÁA office on 098 43292. Tickets are available for €40 per person.