Ballina councillors uncertain about attending US sister city's St Patrick's Day celebrations

Councillors from Ballina have agreed in principle to accept invitations to join their US sister cities in Scranton and Pittsfield for their St Patrick's Day celebrations but uncertainty surrounds if one will make the Pittsfield trip.

Cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District, Cllr Seamus Weir will travel to Scranton, Pennsylvania for the city's St Patrick's Day parade on Saturday, March 9 but no councillor has agreed to go to Pittsfield, Massachusetts whose celebration takes place a week later.

An invitation was sent to Ballina Municipal District by the former Mayor of Pittsfield, Linda Tyer to attend the city from March 15 to 17 as guests of the Irish Sister City Committee for the celebration of the 26th anniversary of their sister city relationship.

The invitation was sent in October but it was not answered and Wednesday's monthly meeting of the Ballina Municipal District heard that the Pittsfield committee were anxious to receive an answer.

“We got an email last night [Tuesday]...they are very anxious and hopefully a decision will be made today. They are making plans and to be fair to them it is not reasonable to tell them a week beforehand of our plans,” Carmel Murphy, Administration Office with Ballina Municipal District told the meeting.

The itinerary for the Pittsfield trip would include a reception with the new Mayor in City Hall on March 15 followed by a short trip across state lines to the city of Albany in New York to march in their parade on March 16.

“The city of Pittsfield is deeply proud of our longstanding Sister City relationship with Ballina and we look forward to celebrating with you,” former Mayor Tyer, wrote in the invitation.

The meeting proposed that Cllr Weir accept the invitation from the Mayor of Scranton to attend its annual St Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday March 9 but because of the week delay between the two events he may not be able to attend both.

Crossmolina-based councillor Michael Loftus, who attended last year's celebrations in Pittsfield, indicated that as the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, he will be attending the annual New York City parade which is scheduled to take place on March 16.

None of the other councillors present indicated that they would be able to travel to Pittsfield but it was agreed to pass a resolution to send a councillor to Pittsfield if circumstances change.

Ms Murphy also confirmed that a letter of congratulations was sent to the new Mayor of Pittsfield Peter M Marchetti as well as a letter of thanks to the former Mayor Linda Tyer.

Cllr Michael Loftus paid tribute to Ann Murphy from Pittsfield and Cork who died at the beginning of January

The Ballina Municipal District also expressed votes of sympathy to the family of Ann Murphy, a native of Youghal who was a member of the Irish Sister City Committee in Pittsfield who died on January 4.

Cllr Loftus said he had the pleasure of meeting Ms Murphy on his visits to Pittsfield and she always had a warm welcome for anyone who came from Ballina.

“Ann was like my Godmother over there, she was always minding me and looking after me. She was so nice and proud of her Cork roots. She was a lovely woman,” he said.