Boyne City celebrates Irish connection with heartfelt tribute from namesake county

Annie Doyle, The Petoskey News-Review
·3 min read
East Jordan Iron Works has a manufacturing facility and sales office in County Offaly in Ireland. Representatives from the company made this ceremonial plaque to mark the twinning partnership, which is now on display in Boyne City Hall.
East Jordan Iron Works has a manufacturing facility and sales office in County Offaly in Ireland. Representatives from the company made this ceremonial plaque to mark the twinning partnership, which is now on display in Boyne City Hall.
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BOYNE CITY — Boyne City celebrated its connection with Ireland at the latest city commission meeting on March 12 with a salute from its Irish namesake.

Meath County Counciler Tommy Reilly gave a heartfelt greeting to the people of Boyne City, reminding the community of their unique relationship with Ireland.

"We are wishing all the government and officials and citizens of Boyne City, Michigan a very happy St. Patrick's Day," said Reilly. "And I look forward to extending an official invitation for you all to come and visit us here in the Boyne Valley."

Boyne City was established in 1856 by an Irish couple named John and Harriet Miller who landed near the Boyne River and were struck by how much the landscape reminded them of their home in the Boyne Valley in Ireland, so they decided to name the region after it.

Five years ago, the City of Boyne City created an official twinning partnership with Boyne Valley, Ireland with the hopes of honoring the area’s Irish roots.

Meath County Counciler Tommy Reilly gave a heartfelt greeting to the people of Boyne City on March 12, reminding the community of their unique relationship with Ireland.
Meath County Counciler Tommy Reilly gave a heartfelt greeting to the people of Boyne City on March 12, reminding the community of their unique relationship with Ireland.

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More: 'Twinning' of the Boynes

The idea for a sister city/twinning relationship between the two Boyne Valleys first came to hospitality and tourism consultant Gerry Meade in 2017 after he met two tourists from Michigan who explained that they had a Boyne Valley of their own.

After five years of partnership, the regions are still hoping to establish economic connections outside of tourism by encouraging businesses to sell local products to the other region and possibly opening locations in each region, like an Irish pub in Boyne City.

Connections beyond heritage already exist with the East Jordan Foundry, or EJ, a global iron works company with its American headquarters in East Jordan, Michigan. The company has a manufacturing facility and sales office in County Offaly in Ireland.

More: Boyne area exploring roots through twinning partnership with Boyne Valley, Ireland

The Irish Boyne Valley Twinning Committee pose with Irish and American flags outside of the Trim Castle in County Meath. Pictured (top, from left) are Mick Huges, Gerry Meade, (bottom, from left) Micheal Kerr and David Gorey.
The Irish Boyne Valley Twinning Committee pose with Irish and American flags outside of the Trim Castle in County Meath. Pictured (top, from left) are Mick Huges, Gerry Meade, (bottom, from left) Micheal Kerr and David Gorey.

Representatives from the company attended the first ceremony in Ireland in 2018 and made a ceremonial plaque to mark the occasion, which is now on display in Boyne City City Hall.

“It’s been about five years since we started this relationship with our origin community in the Boyne Valley of Ireland," said Boyne City City Manager Michael Cain. "This builds on our history and helps us to know where our roots are from. It is important to know our local community’s history and the people that came from Ireland and named if after what they saw as something familiar back home.”

Students in Trim, Ireland, visit via Zoom with students from Boyne City High School.
Students in Trim, Ireland, visit via Zoom with students from Boyne City High School.

Cain said Boyne City Public Schools has also incorporated information about the community’s Irish heritage into the curriculum.

Boyne City Commissioner Marty Moody said he fondly remembers learning about the area’s Irish ancestry when he was in school.

“It was always fun to learn about," he said. “I think it’s a great link to our roots."

Commissioner Tim Nemecek said he understood the heritage was a “key part of the foundation of the city” and that he hopes to explore the possibilities of the partnership.

— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Boyne City celebrates Irish connection with heartfelt tribute from namesake county