Newport Welcoming Guests From Sister City In Ireland

NEWPORT, RI — Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong and the Newport City Council invited the public to join them at a reception next Thursday to welcome visitors from Newport's sister city, Kinsale, Ireland.

The delegation from Kinsale will be at the Edward King House at 35 King St. from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for the formal welcome.

Light refreshments will be served and all are encouraged to join in as the city kicks off its annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

This year marks the 24th anniversary of Newport’s sister city relationship with Kinsale, a port and fishing town on the coast of County Cork, Ireland. Like Newport, Kinsale boasts a significant military history, seasonal tourism economy and a bustling restaurant scene.

In addition to walking in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the visiting delegation will also be visiting with members of city Council and touring Newport City Hall.

"Bonded by common geography and bolstered by Newport’s own proud Irish community, the two cities have forged a particularly strong connection since formally establishing a Sister City relationship, with regular cultural exchanges centered around St. Patrick’s Day and Kinsale’s celebrated annual Gourmet Festival, in which many chefs from Newport have taken part over the years," a town spokesperson said.

Along with Kinsale, Newport has five other sister cities: Shimoda, Japan; Imperia, Italy; Ponta Delgada, the Azores; Skiathos, Greece; and St. John, New Brunswick, Canada.