Tributes to Scranton mayor who helped forge links with Ballina
Former Scranton Mayor Jimmy Connors pictured with Ballina Councillors Mark Duffy and Annie May Reape in March 2023
Councillors in Ballina have extended their sympathies to the family of a US city official who had close ties with Ballina.
Jimmy Connors served as the mayor of Scranton City in Pennsylvania from 1990 to 2002 and remained involved as a community and political leader right up until his passing, playing a role in the Presidential campaign of Joe Biden, who is a native of Scranton.
He was still referred to affectionately as ‘Mayor’ Connors beyond his term in office and travelled frequently to Mayo over the years to commemorate the strong links and relations between the twinned towns of Scranton and Ballina.
During a visit in 2010, he planted a tree to commemorate these links and also dedicated a park bench to the late Ballina councillor PJ Downey, who played a key role in the twinning.
At last Friday’s annual general meeting of the Ballina Municipal District, Independent Cllr Mark Duffy offered a vote of sympathy to the late Mayor Connors. He said he was fortunate to meet him during a visit to Scranton in 2023 along with Cllr Annie May Reape and Head of the Municipal District Declan Turnbull.
Cllr Reape paid tribute to Mayor Connors and said it was admirable how he continued to be so active in his local community. Ballina Municipal District will send a letter of condolence to Mr Connors' family.
