08/02/2026
Elizabethtown, PAâs founders, Barnabas and Elizabeth Hughes are from County Donegal, Ireland, home of Letterkenny.
In 2002, as part of Elizabethtownâs 175th Anniversary Celebration, government officials from Elizabethtown and Letterkenny signed a Sister City Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a partnership that created opportunities for cultural, educational, and community exchanges between the two towns.
For several years, delegations from Letterkenny visited Elizabethtown, sharing stories of their areaâs history and culture. In return, groups from Elizabethtown traveled to Ireland to explore the Irish countryside and learn more about the heritage that helped shape our community. These were more than just explorations into our shared history however. They allowed us to observe modern day practices as well. One example being the âTidy Townâsâ flowers in Letterkenny. Downtown Elizabethtownâs color-coordinated flower baskets are thanks to Letterkenny's inspiration.
Over time, communication and formal visits between our two towns lapsed. And the only visible connection between us was a Sister City sign in Letterkenny, and Etownâs New Yearâs Eve tradition at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. During this event, we celebrate the coming of the new year at 7pm to be in alignment with Letterkennyâs midnight.
Fast forward to late 2023, when I began working with Discover Elizabethtown. I thought a pen pal exchange between Letterkenny and Elizabethtown might produce some interesting highlights for our social media pages and perhaps rekindle our cross-cultural connection. I reached out to the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter, told them about the idea, and asked who I should speak with.
Donnan Harvey responded with some very surprising news: In 2014, Letterkennyâs Town Council was dismembered due to an economic collapse in Ireland. This made the memorandum null and void.
We were no longer Sister Cities.
Being visionary, community-oriented citizens, Donnan and I both saw the opportunities and benefits that a renewed partnership could bring to our towns and we pursued it with passion⌠and patience, communicating with the leadership in our towns, and chatting every other month or so.
In 2024, my sister, Dana Smith and I visited Letterkenny.
And in 2025, Donnan visited Elizabethtown.
There are too many details to share here, but both trips were amazing with each town rolling out the red carpet to warmly welcome its visitors. Tours were given, meetings and events were organized, new connections were made, and more inspiration occurred.
In 2026, under the new direction of Elizabethtownâs borough council president, Jeff Winterbourne, with the support of our mayor, Phil Clark and other Elizabethtown leaders, momentum to reconnect us as sister cities formally began.
On Monday, July 6th, an online signing took place to establish the Elizabethtown Borough and the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District as Twin Towns.
On Thursday, July 9th, 11 representatives of Elizabethtown arrived in Letterkenny, where an in-person signing and 4-day tour of the area began.
It was a wonderful trip with many memorable experiences and conversations. *There are several photo albums with some descriptions in the captions, on my page (with more still to come).
Whatâs next?
Discussions have begun to host a Letterkenny delegation in April of 2027, during Elizabethtownâs 200th Anniversary.
This will be a full circle moment for our two towns that weâre truly looking forward to!
