Irish American dream comes true for twin Boyne Valleys

Trim continues to strengthen its ties with America on the back of its successful Dear Dot JFK expo by being selected as the location in Meath for the permanent site of the special memorial plaque celebrating the recent twinning of the Irish and Michigan Boyne Valleys.

Trim Tourism Network is the hard working voluntary team behind the project and is now supported by Meath County Council. Last Sunday being the 4th of July national Independence Day in the US made it a fitting occasion then for TTN and MCC to host a Covid compliant unveiling event at Trim Castle with a simultaneous live feed ceremony from Boyne City, Michigan of the joint unveiling ceremony.

Their Boyne Valley was founded by an Irish settler from here 160 ago. Minister Damien English was on hand to offically unveil the plaque and speak about the initiative which he has been involved in from the outset. Meath County Council Cathaoirleach Sean Drew and local Trim councillor Joe Fox also spoke for the Irish side and several other councillors were in attendance. Both the Boyne City Mayor and City Manager joined in the occasion from their city hall ceremony and talked enthusiastically about the great relationship already established with Ireland.

Tom Teske, the vice president of the company EJ, the Michigan Boyne Valley global foundry with a branch here in Ireland and whose factory made the two plaques as special token gifts for the twinning, also spoke from there and their Irish site representative Caroline O'Brien came to Trim from their location in Birr. There were messages from President Higgins and a video from the Irish Consul in Chicago which Michigan comes under and who assisted in the twinning.

Mick Hughes of Trim Tourism Network hosted the event and Gluais music group from Trim's Scoil Mhuire entertained and played the national anthems. The Meath branch of ex servicemen performed a colour guard for the ceremony. A socially distanced reception was held afterwards outside at the Stockhouse restaurant and the twinning programme of active collaborations begins in September with its schools and education pilot project to be followed by a travel and tourism initiative in 2022.

Anyone wanting to get involved going forward can contact Trim Tourism Network.