By Paddy Walsh
IN the vicinity of the Pennsylvanian borough of Elizabethtown – once twinned with Letterkenny and now about to be again – there are a large number of dance venues including the Delaware Ballroom, the Green Door, Rick’s Place and the Havana Dancing Club and many more.
Enough there for a man who might be visiting and cares to take a turn or two around the dance floor.
A man like Donnan Harvey, fresh from his stint at last weekend’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ spectacular, and next week on his way to Elizabethtown for a series of promotional engagements, none of which, to date, involves donning the dancing shoes though that could change.
The visit follows a trip to Letterkenny in October last by social media manager of the promotional group ‘Discover Elizabethtown’, Kim Winey, who along with her sister, Dana Smith, took in some of the sights and sounds – traditional music being part of their itinerary – after Kim initiated the contact with the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter committee headed by Donnan.
WILD ATLANTIC HAIR! Dana Smith and Kim Winey share the hair at Horn Head during their visit to Donegal.
“It was as a result of it that I got an invite to go out to Elizabethtown where a range of events have been lined up during my four days there.”
Donnan will fly out to Philadelphia next Wednesday, March 12, and after spending a night there will take the train to Elizabethtown to begin a round of activities that will keep him and his hosts fully occupied.
During his week in the States, Donnan will meet members of the Donegal Diaspora including Letterkenny native, Sean Cafferkey who only moved to Harrisburg, about 20 miles from Elizabethtown, at Christmas. He is also hoping to meet another Letterkenny man, Packie Kennedy, who is involved in the pub trade.
Donnan will be checking into the plush Stone Gables Estate Klein Mansion upon his arrival before being taken on a drive tour of the area and a tour of the Elizabethtown College, the Masonic Village, and the MY&E Model Railroad Club. Following dinner at the Whisk Café, he will be taken along to the Supper Club for an Irish themed night.
The following day he’ll be escorted to the Lancaster area involving a tour of downtown Lancaster and a visit to the local Central Market.
The Letterkenny visitor will also get a chance to visit many downtown businesses in the locality.
On Saturday, Donnan, accompanied by Sean and his family, will enjoy a traditional Irish breakfast before getting acquainted with some of the expert camera work of Kim Winey.
Local councillors and officials watch a video of greetings from Elizabethtown. Among those watching were Cllr Gerry McMonagle and Cllr Ciaran Brogan along with Sarah Nolan, Donegal Council tourism unit, Jim Glackin, Cathedral Arts and Toni Forrester, CEO Letterkenny Chamber. Photo: Kim Winey
The Elizabethtown Historical Society will provide the next port of call where the programme will feature talks on the past, present and futures of both Elizabethtown and Letterkenny.
Among those lined up to address the event, either in person or by video link, will be Letterkenny historian, Kieran Kelly, who will speak on the Boyd family connection to Pennsylvania; Kim reflecting on her visit last year to Letterkenny; Sean Cafferkey who will speak on the transitioning from his native town to the Elizabethtown area; and Donnan himself who will highlight the growth of the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter initiative.
The closing element of the proceedings will involve addresses by the Municipal Mayor of Letterkenny, Cllr Gerry McMonagle by video link and an Elizabethtown counterpart.
Other events have also been organised including a visit to the Donegal Presbyterian Church; and a guide around Sean’s home area of Harrisburg.
Donnan has also scheduled a meeting with the Regional Coordinator of the Jane Austen Society in Pennsylvania to highlight Letterkenny’s close links with the author.
“I’m really looking forward to the visit and hope that it will formulate closer connections and, of course, rekindle the twinning of our two towns,” says Donnan.
In 2027, Elizabethtown will mark its 200th anniversary and the aim is to invite councillors and officials from Letterkenny to join in the celebrations.
And by that time, Donnan himself will be able to show them around….!
Related posts:
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)