Providence St. Patrick's Day Celebration & Athlone Twinning Ceremony – March 20, 2026
Providence St. Patrick's Day Celebration & Athlone Twinning Ceremony
On March 20, 2026, Providence City Hall hosted a St. Patrick's Day celebration that also marked the one-year anniversary of the twinning agreement between Providence, Rhode Island, and Athlone, Ireland. The event featured remarks by city and visiting officials, religious blessings, Irish dance and musical performances, and the recognition of the 2026 and 2027 St. Patrick's Day Parade grand marshals.
Consent Calendar
- No routine approvals or unanimous actions were recorded in the transcript.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments or testimony were provided.
Discussion Items
- Councilwoman Joanne Ryan (Providence) welcomed attendees and formally introduced the delegation from Athlone, including Mayor Vincent McCormick and former Mayor/Chairman of the Athlone Twinning Committee, Angus O'Rourke.
- Reverend Bernie O'Reilly delivered an invocation and prayer based on St. Patrick's Breastplate, emphasizing faith and unity.
- Mayor Brett Smiley highlighted the shared characteristics of Providence and Athlone (both are growing cities on rivers between larger economies) and noted the contributions of Irish Americans to Providence's built environment, governance, and culture.
- Bishop Bruce Lewandowski recounted a miracle of St. Patrick involving spiritual camouflage, and granted a dispensation for Catholics to eat meat on that Friday in Lent during the celebration.
- Council President Rachel Miller shared personal reflections on her Irish heritage, describing it as a story of a community yearning for freedom, and commended Councilwoman Ryan for organizing the celebration for 12 years.
- Councilwoman Ryan explained the twinning process, which began in 2013 with efforts by Patrick Griffin and John Henson, and culminated in a unanimous City Council vote to twin with Athlone in 2025.
- Angus O'Rourke expressed gratitude for the hospitality and outlined the first-year achievements: a student exchange between Coláiste Chiaráin (Athlone) and LaSalle Academy (Providence), a chef exchange for Providence Food Week, and academic collaborations between Technological University of the Shannon and Providence College and Brown University.
- Mayor Vincent McCormick reinforced the importance of the partnership amid global uncertainties, highlighted tourism and research opportunities (e.g., polymer sustainability), and extended a personal invitation to Mayor Smiley for a return visit to Athlone.
- Grand Marshal Don Kavanaugh (2026) and Deputy Grand Marshal Brendan Daugherty (2027) gave remarks; Daugherty shared a personal story illustrating the theme "There are no strangers, only friends we haven't met yet."
- Students from Coláiste Chiaráin and LaSalle Academy performed musical pieces including an Irish blessing and a traditional song about the River Shannon.
- The Providence Hurling team was recognized, and Councilwoman Ryan noted that a hurling field was established in her ward.
Key Outcomes
- The twinning agreement between Providence and Athlone, signed one year ago, was reaffirmed. The City Council approved the twinning unanimously.
- A student exchange program between Coláiste Chiaráin and LaSalle Academy is ongoing, with 11 students visiting Providence and staying with host families.
- A chef exchange program was announced for Providence Food Week, supported by Go Providence and the Athlone Chamber of Commerce.
- Tourism and research collaborations are being explored, including links between the Technological University of the Shannon (polymer sustainability) and local universities.
- The 2026 Providence St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal is Don Kavanaugh; the 2027 Grand Marshal is Brendan Daugherty.
- Councilwoman Ryan noted that this was her 12th and final year organizing the celebration, as she is term-limited.
- A bowl of shamrocks was presented to Mayor Smiley as a symbol of friendship.
Meeting Transcript
That's a long microphone. Can everyone hear? Thank you all. I'm Providence Councilwoman Joanne Ryan. It is my distinct honor and pleasure to welcome you to the mayor's St. Patrick's Day celebration. We have a wonderful program today. On, but first I would like to uh welcome, formally welcome our friends from our new twin city on in Arlone, Ireland, uh, the mayor Vincent McCormick from the Moat Mayor of Athlone Moat District and his distinguished delegations from Athlone, Ireland. They've been here for a few days. They came in Wednesday and they've enjoyed touring our city. So thank you very much for making the trick. On and without further ado, I would like to uh invite Bernie excuse me, Reverend Bernie O'Reilly, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Patrick Parish up to the podium, and if you could kindly a friend of Providence, if you could uh give us the invitation, sir. Thank you. Thank you, Joanne. And again, happy belated St. Patrick's Day, huh? Not forgetting Saint Joseph as well. All right, my friends. A young boy of the tender age of sixteen years was called by God to undertake an extraordinary mission. He was to return to a land that held him captive for six long years, tending sheep on what is now Sleeve Mission County Antrim. The divine summons must have caused him severe internal conflict at having to face his captors again. Our God dwells in heaven, on earth, and in the sea. He gives life and breath to all. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit undivided. He also explained the life of the Trinity using the familiar symbol of the shamrock, the tree-leaf shamra, which with its tree leaves, representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And his legacy made Ireland ultimately synonymous with Catholicism. Today, our celebration must include a renewal of that faith that Patrick made part of our very being. So let us now for a brief moment close our eyes and focus on his personal union with Christ, expressed very clearly and beautifully in what is known as the breastpace of Patrick. It reads, Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ under me, Christ over me. Christ at my right, Christ to my left. Christ in my line, my sitting and my rising. Christ in my lying and my sitting, Christ in the heart of those who think of me. And now let us conclude the prayer in the very language of Patrick himself. Those who are visitors will probably understand this. Very briefly, it says, Christ in my thinking, my speaking, my seeing, my listening, my speaking, my looking, and my listening to all. It really has guided the Irish people, and as you can see and understand, this blessing today and this celebration today is indeed a celebration of that very faith. So, Gomech Banak Day Ori, Golair, in Anamana, Agas and Vecchi, Agasan Spirit, Nave, Amen. May the blessing of God be with all of you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen. I'm sure people, you don't need my encouragement to celebrate this great gift that Patrick has left us. Enjoy it. So before I introduce the great mayor of the city of Providence, I'd like to take just a moment because Father reminded me of our dear friend Sister Anne. Many of you know Sister Ann Keefe. She was a dear friend and a vital member of our community. And John Henson reminded me just the other evening when we were chatting. She used to always say, don't forget to be Irish. Uh and it's a sentiment encouraging the preservation of Irish culture, values and identity, emphasizing warmth, wit, storytelling, and resilience. It is a call to maintain pride and Irish heritage, celebrating camaraderie and community. With that, I'd like to introduce the leader of our community, Mayor Brett Smiley. Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you, Councilwoman, and welcome everyone to Providence City Hall, to all of our visitors and guests.
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