Roscommon and Downey, USA reconnect a spirit of friendship

Roscommon's long-standing relationship with its twin city of Downey, California has been reignited after a visit from the former Mayor of Downey, Mario Guerra.

The connection between Roscommon and Downey goes way back, with the Californian city founded by Taughmaconnell native John Gately Downey in 1873.

Mr Guerra was accompanied by his wife Ann and other family members as they were welcomed to Áras an Chontae by the Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr. Liam Callaghan; Chief Executive Shane Tiernan, Cllrs. Tom Crosby, Michael Holland and Tony Ward; Heritage Officer Nollaig Feeney, as well as representatives of the Taughmaconnell Historical and Heritage Society (THHS). Cllr. Callaghan said the visit bridged a 13-year gap since representatives of Downey visited the county for the ‘The Gathering,’ which highlighted the strong links of Roscommon people. Later in 2018, a reciprocal visit by representatives of the local authority and members of THHS took place in Downey.

He said Roscommon’s association with Downey had been a mutually beneficial one based on common interests, friendship, and respect, adding: “These qualities I believe continue to inspire that relationship.”

Cllr. Callaghan cited the large influx of Roscommon people expected to descend upon New York for next month’s Connacht Senior Football Championship match. He said Roscommon people were proud of its links to Downey, who was the first non-American born governor of California, the second being actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Born on June 24, 1827, in the townland of Castlesampson, Taughmaconnell to Denis Downey and Bridget Gately, John Gately Downey emigrated with his family at the age of 14 and by 1849 had arrived in California. Moving to Los Angeles, he was elected to the Los Angeles Common Council in May 1852 and by 1860 had risen in the political ranks to become the Governor of California. Downey died in 1894 at his home in Los Angeles leaving a considerable legacy of achievement and personal advancement.

Welcoming Mr. Guerra and his family, Chief Executive Shane Tiernan said Mr Guerra “like many Roscommon people in the United States, has also lived the American Dream.” Originally from Cuba, he said Mr Guerra served as Mayor of Downey from 2006 to 2014.

Addressing the chamber, Mr Guerra described John Gately Downey as an amazing man, and described how John Gately Downey supported the preservation of the Union during the American Civil War and conducted the first ever transatlantic telegraph between himself and then US President Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

Citing California as the fourth largest economy in the world, Mr Guerra said Downey was the tenth largest city of 88 cities in Los Angeles county with a population of over 110,000 people.

Downey, Mr Guerra went on, was also the first city of its kind to enter ‘a sister’ or ‘twinning relationship’ with another city when it twinned with the city of Guadalajara in Mexico in 1957.

Gifts were subsequently exchanged on behalf of Roscommon County Council and the visiting party from Downey before a visit to Downey’s homeplace of Taughmaconnell, led by Micheál Moore, Liam Keogh and Tim Farrell on behalf of the local Historical and Heritage Society.