Ballina's Sister City Chair Willie Nolan and Pittsfield's Chair Francis Curley shake at Friday's welcoming of the Irish contingent at City Hall. The cities traded gifts that included chocolate and whiskey.
State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier presents a proclamation to Mayo County Council Director of Services Tom Gilligan.
Mayor Linda Tayer and Farley-Bouvier share a laugh Gilligan and Mayo County Councillor Michael Loftus.
The event included Irish music before heading for lunch at Patrick's Pub.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield has "twinned" with Ballina, Ireland, for 25 years now, a partnership that has been filled with learning, community, and the occasional exchange of whiskey.
On Friday, officials from the two sister cities gathered at City Hall to mark the quarter-century milestone. Mayo County Councillor Michael Loftus, Mayo County Council Director of Services Tom Gilligan, and Chairman of the Twinning Committee Willie Nolan represented Ballina in this year's visit.
"This is such an important relationship and friendship for a lot of reasons," Mayor Linda Tyer said.
"One of the things I value the most about my time in office and about the human experience is the cultural exchanges that we experience when we travel the world and having a designated sister city really strengthens and makes those experiences even more special."
On March 17, 1998, the city of Pittsfield and Ballina in Mayo County officially formed as Sister Cities to provide opportunities for the exchange of ideas in culture and fellowship while promoting peace, tranquility, and diversity.
Ballina is a community of about 10,000 people and, similar to Pittsfield, has a vibrant art scene and natural scenery. This year is its 300th anniversary.
For Loftus, who is the town's mayor-elect, the good and friendly nature of his overseas friends stands out the most. While the Irish are known for hospitality, he finds Pittsfield residents to be even more charitable.
"We're having an excellent trip. As always, we are so well looked after by the Sister City here in Pittsfield and the committee are fantastic," he explained.
"It's a great honor to be here on the 25th anniversary, it's very special to be here so for that so I really am so happy that it has continued."
Nolan, who is a former two-term mayor, has also felt warmly welcomed by Ballina's twin.
"I've always found Pittsfield a very friendly city," he said.
He pointed out that Ballina has similar problems such as the price of housing and job layoffs for traditional industries, with high-tech industries following suit.
"Most of our output in Ireland is based on farmland, FDR, we call it farmland direct investment," Nolan explained. "It plays a major part with some of the biggest companies in the world."
International partnership is important from a social and economic standpoint, he feels.
This is Gilligan's first visit to the Berkshires and he loved driving into the city and being greeted by its scenery and welcoming people.
"The people are so friendly, so warm, so outgoing really," he said. "I definitely will be coming back."
Gilligan is responsible for the town's housing, roads, and architectural services.
Francis Curley of the Irish Sister City Committee pointed out that Berkshire County used to have a similar position to a countywide services director but did away with it.
Fellow committee member Anne Gagnon said the partnership is exciting, rewarding, and worth every effort. She also feels a strong sense of community between the sister cities.
"People are people everywhere and we love the family connections and learning the heritage," she said. "It's interesting to think about the differences too."
During the ceremony, local musicians played Irish tunes and a variety of gifts were exchanged between Ballina and Pittsfield representatives. Chocolate Springs chocolates and Jameson whiskey were among the tokens of appreciation that went out.
A proclamation was also presented by Tyer and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.
"You had the vision, the persistence, tenacity to not just have an idea, but to carry it out and to see it through year after year after year," Farley-Bouvier said about the people who started this tradition.
"And it's not easy. What you do is a lot of effort that goes through that into this and my god, March is a very busy month."
After the ceremony, the visitors headed to Patrick's Pub for a taste of Pittsfield's take on an Irish eatery.
Last year, Ballina Municipal District Councillor Mark Duffy and Head of the District Declan Turnbull represented the Sister City for the visit.
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