Omaha Nebraska USA

USA. Victims given VIP treatment as Naas twins with Omaha

Tue 20 Aug 2002

The historic event took place at a special ceremony in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall on August 3in front of dignitaries, host families and guests.

The four-day visit to Naas was part of a longer visit by the group which also took in Dublin and the south of Ireland. It was their largest delegation ever to a ‘Sister City’.

Omaha is already twinned with cities in Japan, Germany, and Lithuania while current Naas twins include Allaire (France), St David’s (Wales), Casalattica (Italy), and Dillingen (Bavaria).

The deputation included Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey; Chuck Sigerson, President of Omaha City Council; Laurence F Uebner, Chairman Omaha Sister Cities Association; and James Cavanagh of the Ancient Order of Hibernians as well as some Omaha councillors and members of the community.

The guests were officially welcomed to Naas Town Hall by town clerk Declan Kirrane.

Also present with Naas councillors were Co Kildare Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael FitzPatrick, and the two Freemen of Naas - former County Manager Gerry Ward and President of the Kildare GAA Supporters Club Michael Osborne.

In his speech Mayor Timmy Conway told the visitors: “Naas in now your home and Omaha our new home.”

A brief insight into the history of Naas was given by local historian Paddy Behan who said there are now over 40 million ethnic Irish in the US.

Kildare Nationalist