Sinn Féin is the Irish political party founded in 1902 that is active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and is the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and is the joint-largest party in the Dáil Éireann (the lower house for the Republic of Ireland). Quinn, originally from Belfast, serves as the official liaison between Sinn Féin and North America providing support and briefings to American and Canadian civic and political leaders.
Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank my Chief of Staff Tom Ashe and Captain Michael Ireland for helping to coordinate Mr. Ciarán Quinn visit to Springfield. Springfield has a proud and strong Irish population, especially from our Hungry Hill neighborhood, and it is important that we have that connection to share news and information with our local Irish-Americans. Thanks to American Bipartisan efforts, especially from our own Congressman Richard Neal, America continues to be a central focus for Irish unity and peaceful collaboration, including the Good Friday agreement. In fact, it is Congressman Neal who submitted a special House Resolution to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement with bipartisan support including Congressman Mike Kelly, Republican of Pennsylvania. Locally, thanks to the efforts from Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management (PBRM) Director Patrick Sullivan, my administration is proud to support our 1916 Garden of Remembrance in our beautiful and historic Forest Park which marks the fight for Irish Independence and the creation of the modern Irish state, one of the first such monuments dedicated to acknowledge and honor this historical moment in America.”
