Kerry parks’ Stateside twins

THE cultural relationship between Kerry and the United States of America is a well-established one that is about to be strengthened even further with news that Kenmare Peninsula Park and Killarney National Park are to be twinned with sites of major historical importance in the US.

The Kerryman understands that Ellis Island – a location in which thousands of Irish emigrants passed through on route to a new life – is to be twinned with Kenmare Peninsula Park, while Killarney National Park is to have Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming as its twin partner.

The agreement is expected to be formally signed off on before St Patrick’s Day 2020. The ‘Sister Park Agreement’ promotes international cooperation between governments for the support and mutual benefit of parks in a way that enriches the experience for visitors.

The proposal was first mooted at the unveiling of the 1916 Proclamation Plaque at the Washington Monument back in September.

The agreement would include training of personnel in both parks as part of a cross-exchange programme that would see park staff in Kenmare Peninsula Park and Killarney National Park travelling to Ellis Island and Yellowstone to partake in training, conservation, courses and conferences.

Senator Mark Daly, who is the Fianna Fáil representative on the Decade of Commemoration Committee, had raised the issue at the last committee meeting in Dublin with Minister for Arts Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan.

The Kerry locations will form part of two other national sites: The Garden of Remembrance in Dublin will be twinned with the National Mall in Washington, and the ‘Trail of Tears’ – where it’s thought as many as 4,000 Native Americans died due to deliberate acts of displacement – with Longford National Park.

Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, represents the Longford-Westmeath constituency and is said to have ‘worked hard’ in recent months to push the twinning proposals.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service also fall under the remit of Mr Moran’s department.

The practice of twinning towns and municipalities in Kerry with towns across the world is already a popular one.

Linking Kerry sites of historic and cultural significance with arguably some of the top historic sites in the US is expected to generate renewed interest among tourists.

Moreover, it’s thought the project will increase conservation awareness and boost local economies through the exchange of ideas and personnel.