2011 St. Patrick’s Day Mayors’ Luncheon
Councilman Tom Crosby Visit
Tucson mayor Bob Walkup was among the large turnout welcoming Roscommon County Councillor Tom Crosby and his wife Pauline to the nineteenth annual Tucson- Roscommon Sister Cities luncheon at Tucson’s Historic Manning House on March 17.
In welcoming the Crosbys the Mayor wished them a most enjoyable time in the “Old Pueblo.” “It is my understanding you are going to be well looked after while you are here; I hear that my friend Dan Cavanagh is planning your itinerary,”. Mayor Walkup then spoke of the continuing ties between Roscommon and Tucson and lauded the continued efforts of Cllr Tom Crosby and the Tucson Roscommon Sister Cities in promoting goodwill between the two communities. Historical relations, he pointed out, date back to 1775 when Don Hugo O’Conor, a Roscommon native in the service of the King of Spain, moved the presidio north from Tubac and relocated it at the more strategic San Augustin del Tucson that is today Tucson. He thanked Cllr Crosby for his invitation in 2006 to visit Roscommon and recalled his first visit to Ireland and Roscommon in June 2008, and the rousing reception he and his wife, Beth, were given in Roscommon. “We received the royal treatment from Mayor Kelly and the council.”
Sister Cities chairperson Colleen Kelly Beaman thanked Cllr Crosby for making the journey to Tucson and praised his untiring efforts in keeping the Tucson-Roscommon relationship thriving. “This is Tom’s second visit to Tucson, his previous one was in 2006 when he was mayor. We are extremely happy to have him and his lovely wife, Pauline . Moreover, it is
my understanding, he made this trip all the way from Roscommon at his own expense.”
During his visit Cllr Crosby met with several community and business leaders, as well as with leaders of the Irish community, at a reception hosted by Dan Cavanagh. Tom also did a Television and a radio interview on the Bill Buckmaster show on current economic affairs in Ireland, Cllr Crosby missed no opportunity in promoting Roscommon and Ireland as a tourist destination and a place for business investment.
Large numbers lined the sidewalks of downtown Tucson, to take in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. As usual, there was a splendid show of dancers, pipers, bands and floats. In the aftermath of the Parade, the crowd gathered to a nearby park for the festivities that followed.
Patrick Lavin, Tucson Roscommon Sisters Cities.