Members of a joint Ballinrobe and Co. Mayo delegation have declared themselves “overwhelmed” by the reception they received in Lithuania last week – and now all hurdles have been cleared for a formal Twinning ceremony in Co. Mayo in September.

Members of the Ballinrobe and Mayo delegation pictured on their recent fact-finding mission to Jonava, Lithuania. Back row (l to r): Patsy Murphy, Ballinrobe; Miranda Jankauskiene, Ballinbrobe and Lithuania; Dalija Dalija Kajėnienė, Jonava; Seamus Granahan, Mayo County Council; David Hall, Ballinrobe; Dalia Autukienė, Jonava; Cllr Patsy O’Brien. Front row (l to r): Neil Sheridan, Mayo County Council; Cllr Damien Ryan; Cllr John Cribbin, Cathaoirleach, Mayo County Council; Raimundas Volbergas, Jonava; and Petras Vyšniauskas, Jonava.

The city of Jonava, the ninth largest in Lithuania, afforded the visitors “an extraordinary welcome”, said David Hall, a member of the Ballinrobe and Mayo delegation.

The delegation comprised Ballinrobe representatives David Hall, Miranda Jankauskiene, and Patsy Murphy, along with Mayo Cathaoirleach John Cribbin, Cllr Patsy O’Brien, Cllr Damien Ryan, and Mayo County Council officials Seamus Granahan and Neil Sheridan.

“The purpose of our trip was to initiate a Twinning between Jonava and Ballinrobe and the whole county of Mayo. This connection dates back to 1935, when Lithuanian pilot Felix Waitkus made an emergency landing just outside Ballinrobe,” added Mr Hall.

“He was the only pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic in that year, and just the sixth ever up that point.”

In recent years, the influx of Lithuanians to Ireland has brought renewed interest in Waitkus’ story, and for the past three years Ballinrobe has hosted Ireland’s Lithuanian community for an annual festival. This provided the impetus for the formal Twinning arrangement.

“We were overwhelmed by the reception we received. The people of Jonava treated us like royalty, and they made it very clear they were very excited by the prospect of a tie-up with Ballinrobe and Mayo,” added Mr Hall.

“It was an extraordinary welcome and one that bodes well for the future of relations between this part of the world and Lithuania.”

The final step in the Twinning process will take place in September, as part of the Fly Mayo 2010 Festival in Ballinrobe (September 24th-26th).

The Lithuanian Ambassador to Ireland, and some Government Ministers from Lithuania, have all visited Ballinrobe for official functions, including the 2007 unveiling of a permanent memorial to Felix Waitkus.

“One of the highlights of our visit was the discovery that in the Aviation Museum in the city of Kaunas, a whole section has been devoted to Ballinrobe. It includes photos of recent Lithuanian-themed festivals in Ballinrobe, as well as pictures from the famous 1935 flight,” said Mr Murphy.

“The Fly Mayo Festival will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Felix Waitkus’ flight, and it promises to be a huge occasion in Ballinrobe. We are expecting that about 600 Lithuanians will visit the town, including the Ambassador to Ireland and some representatives of the Lithuanian Government.

“The Mayor of Jonava and some of his staff will also come to Ballinrobe for the festival.”

A website – www.BallinrobeLithuania.com – has been launched to mark the developing relationship between Ballinrobe and Lithuania.

Some facts about Jonava

  • It is the ninth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 35,000 people
  • It is located in Central Lithuania at co-ordinates 55° 05′ N / 24° 17′ E
  • Popular sports there include football, basketball, and volleyball
  • The town is built on both banks of the Vilia River, along the Libau-Rumanian rail line
  • In 1905, almost the entire town burned down. The buildings were soon reconstructed from brick and stucco
  • It is believed Ireland has a Lithuanian community of approximately 150,000 people

Members of the Ballinrobe and Mayo delegation pictured on their recent fact-finding mission to Jonava, Lithuania. (L to r): Seamus Granahan, Mayo County Council; Lithuanian army representative; John Cribbin, Cathaoirleach, Mayo County Council; David Hall, Ballinrobe Tourism Committee; Cllr Patsy O’Brien; Cllr Damien Ryan; Neil Sheridan, Mayo County Council; and Patsy Murphy, Ballinrobe Tourism Committee.

Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council John Cribbin receiving a gift from Zita Malkevičienė, Jonavan, during the recent Ballinrobe and Mayo delegation’s fact-finding mission to Jonava, Lithuania.