In Pictures: Letterkenny and Elizabethtown officially twinned again
A long-standing friendship between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, has been officially renewed with the signing of a new Twinning Charter and Agreement.
Members of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District welcomed a delegation from Elizabethtown to the county as the two towns formally re-established their twinning relationship.
Cllr Pauric McGarvey, Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford MD and Jeff Winterborne, Elizabethtown Borough President with Elected Members and attendees at the signing of a new Twinning agreement between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Photo - Clive Wasson
Mayor of the Letterkenny-Milford MD Cllr Pauric McGarvey said it was a great honour to sign the charter and agreement and reforge the relationship between the two towns.
Jeff Winterborne, Borough President of Elizabethtown, co-signed the agreement and thanked the council, elected members and Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter committee for their work and commitment to renewing the links.
The renewed partnership comes 24 years after Letterkenny Town Council first signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pennsylvania borough.
The official twinning arrangement later lapsed following the dissolution of town councils in Ireland, although close links between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown remained.
Efforts to revive the partnership gathered pace in 2024 when Elizabethtown photographer Kim Winey visited Letterkenny and met Donnan Harvey of the Cathedral Quarter group, along with local elected representatives.
Councillors subsequently agreed in 2025 to move forward with plans to renew the twinning programme.
The visiting delegation had a packed schedule during their Donegal trip, taking in visits from Glenveagh to Killybegs before returning home yesterday.
The twinning previously supported links including student exchanges with LYIT, now ATU, and visits by Letterkenny representatives to Elizabethtown for St Patrick's Day celebrations.
Cllr Pauric McGarvey, Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford MD and Jeff Winterborne, Elizabethtown Borough President at the signing of a new Twinning agreement between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Photo - Clive Wasson
Cllr Pauric McGarvey, Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford MD presents a photo of Ramelton to Jeff Winterborne, Elizabethtown Borough President at the signing of a new Twinning agreement between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Photo - Clive Wasson
Attendees at the signing of a new Twinning agreement between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Photo - Clive Wasson
Cllr Pauric McGarvey, Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford MD and Richard Shields, Senior Staff Officer, with attendees at the signing of a new Twinning agreement between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Photo - Clive Wasson
Anne Condon, Fred Winey, Peggy Shaffer and Ken Shaffer at the signing of a new Twinning agreement between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Photo - Clive Wasson
Donnan Harvey, Jeff McCloud, Elizabeth McCloud, Cllr. Gerry McMonagle and Jeff Winterborne, Elizabethtown Borough President at the signing of a new Twinning agreement between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Photo - Clive Wasson
Cllr. Donal Coyle, Valerie Winterborne at the signing of a new Twinning agreement between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Photo - Clive Wasson
Richard Shields, Teresa St. Angelo and Cllr Pauric McGarvey, Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford MD at the signing of a new Twinning agreement between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Photo - Clive Wasson
Jim Glacken, Kim Winey, Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh, Andrii Kotkovets and Fred Winey at the signing of a new Twinning agreement between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Photo - Clive Wasson
This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme