Twinning between Mayo village and John Wayne's birthplace proposed

DISCUSSIONS are to commence with authorities in Iowa on advancing a formal twinning arrangement between Cong and Winterset, the birthplace of John Wayne.

It is hoped progress will be made on the twinning ahead of the 75th anniversary of the release of The Quiet Man film next May.

The legacy of The Quiet Man, which was filmed in Cong and starred Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, looms large in the village decades on from it hitting the big screen.

Correspondence has already been received from the mayor in Winterset about formalising a link with the Cong community, and local councillors fully backed the initiative at a Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting today.

Councillor Damien Ryan, who tabled a motion for discussions to commence with their counterparts in Iowa, said it is a golden opportunity to connect with the US.

The Collins family of The Quiet Man Museum & Tour’s connection with the director of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum lead to the proposal being put forward.

The positive impact The Quiet Man has had tourism in south Mayo was noted by elected members, and it is probably more important today than when it was first filmed, it is that popular, said Councillor Patsy O'Brien.

Members agreed developing the link with Wayne's home place would be a win-win for the village and county.

Some links have already been established between Cong and Winterset.

The Collins family of The Quiet Man Museum and Tour’s connection with the director of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum has led to this latest step towards an official twinning.

The family believe that having Cong, home of The Quiet Man, twinned with the birthplace of John Wayne will be a fantastic boost for tourism in Cong and in County Mayo by continuing to promote the connection between Cong, the west of Ireland and the United States. They look forward to being instrumental in developing and fostering this connection.

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