They come to Peekskill from all over the world, over many decades, people seeking a new home to build a future. Generations of families, as well as recent arrivals, thrive here and form new communities.
Some trace their roots to Ireland, possibly from the town of Castlebar in County Mayo. Others arrived from the province of Azuay in the Republic of Ecuador, perhaps from the city of Cuenca in the Andes Mountains.
Peekskill is now their home, creating a common bond of daily life in the city they share alongside the scenic Hudson River. Another common trait among all these different peoples is a great pride in their native culture and in their roots.
Considering the great diversity of Peekskill’s people, it’s probably not surprising that this city has two sister communities – Castlebar and Cuenca. Connections to those two homelands run deep and these arrangements help reinforce the bonds.
Sister cities promote travel, cultural exchange and ties between their twins. Student exchanges and sending representatives for visits also can increase the connections. Peekskill first established a sister city with Castlebar in 2000 and then with Cuenca in 2021.
A recent visit from Ireland
In 2000 the City of Peekskill and the Town of Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland established a “twinning or “sister” relationship at the suggestion of members of the Peekskill St. Patrick’s Committee. Since 1989 The St. Patrick’s Committee has promoted local Irish heritage and sponsored the annual parade.
Over the years many visits back and forth have taken place. In the summer of 2006 then Mayor John Testa, his family and two members of the Peekskill St. Patrick’s Committee (Patrick Garvey and Cathal McGreal) traveled to Castlebar to solidify and expand the twinning relationship. It was the first such visit from a Peekskill official to Castlebar. Up until that time only Castlebar officials had made visits to Peekskill.
Now in 2024 the time has come this year to reinforce those bonds according to Sue Sheridan of the Peekskill St. Patrick’s Parade committee.
“Today as the chairman, I see it as my duty and honor (with my great-great grandparents on my mother’s side coming from Ireland) to continue the relationship with our friends in Castlebar and to do my best to expand the cultural exchange between the two cities, taking the relationship to the next level,” Sheridan said.
“I am just carrying the torch that the late Pat Garvey, former City Manager of Peekskill, General in the United States Army, past chairman and founding member of the St. Patrick’s committee and a former parade Grand Marshal, lit back in 2000 when the agreement was signed between Peekskill and Castlebar.”
Three visitors came from Ireland last month to attend the annual Irish Fest at the Peekskill Riverfront Green. David Reddington, administrative officer of the Castlebar Municipal District, Donna Sheridan, Fine Gael Councillor in the Castlebar Municipal District and Mayo County Councilor Michael Kilcoyne all sang the praises of Peekskill.
“Peekskill is absolutely gorgeous really lovely,” Donna Sheridan said. “It’s great to go to New York City but then to come here and see this beautiful scenery from the Hudson River and the Abbey hotel.
“It’s been fantastic to meet all the different individuals from all over. I think we clued them in on a lot of all things Mayo and what’s going on with Castlebar and we’re hoping they come our way.”
Kilcoyne, who’s visited Peekskill many times over the years, said he spoke with County Legislator Colin Smith at the Irish Fest and will have a zoom meeting to explore ideas, possibly including an exchange of officials and maybe an exchange of students.
Peekskill’s strong ties to Ecuador
Then-mayor Andre Rainey and Pedro Palacios Ullauri, mayor of Cuenca in Ecuador, signed the sister city agreement between the two in 2021, the first such agreement between a Westchester County municipality and a non-European city.
Their goal is to develop mutual cooperation activities that stem from the history they share in common. This history goes back to the sizable community of former Cuenca residents that reside in Peekskill, as well as the extensive community of North Americans citizens living in Cuenca.
“I encourage any Peekskill group with an interest in connecting with similar groups in Cuenca, whether for educational, cultural or business purposes, to get involved in this project,” Rainey said. “I thank the volunteers for their leadership, especially Luis Coronel, president of the Peekskill and Cuenca Sister Cities Corporation.”
The reach of the Ecuadoran population in Peekskill was on display in September when that nation’s president stopped here during a trip to America.
In his brief remarks, Daniel Noboa Azin, the 36-year-old president of Ecuador, spoke of the collective action of Ecuadorians in the United States and how that has always had a very positive end and will continue to be positive.
Earlier this year, in response to political upheaval in Ecuador, local organizations Comunidades Unidas and Comité Civico Ecuatoriano de Westchester worked with Peekskill Councilman Ramon Fernandez and District 1 Legislator Colin Smith’s office to host “Somos Ecuador” (We are Ecuador) on Feb. 3 at the Peekskill City School District’s Administration building. The event informed the public about the situation in Ecuador and relevant U.S. immigration laws.
The office of Peekskill Hispanic Community Corp. at 1005 Park St. offers a variety of services to the community including weekly English classes; food distribution two times a month with Feed Westchester at 701 Washington St.; a Santa gift program for children; programs for pregnant women and single mothers, a coat drive, and occasional community clean ups.
And this August, Westchester’s largest Ecuadorian festival was held here at Riverfront Green Park, celebrating Peekskill’s Ecuadorian culture with live music, cultural performers, food and more.
Strong roots still remain to native lands
Whether from Ecuador, Ireland or the dozens of other nations where Peekskill residents trace their roots, the pride and connection to ancestors remains a powerful force.
During his visit to the Irish Fest, Mayo County Councilor Michael Kilcoyne captured the common sentiment that most people share about their ancestral bonds.
“If you took a survey here today you’d see that for a lot of these people their roots are in Ireland and they all feel as if they’re Irish,” Kilcoyne said. “They feel more Irish than American even though it might go five generations back.”
And when that lure to return to the land of their ancestors starts to rise, the grand folks from Ireland are waiting with open arms.
“People should visit County Mayo because it’s the most beautiful part of Ireland in my opinion,” Donna Sheridan said. “We have the most beautiful beaches, the most beautiful scenery and mountains.
“The east of the country is very built up with cities including Dublin but when you come to Mayo you see real rural Ireland and the absolute beauty and tranquility we have in the west of Ireland. That’s why I encourage everyone to come visit us in Castlebar and visit the whole county of Mayo.”
