Write a commentThe official Newry, Mourne and Down Council link with the city of Southern Pines in the US isn't the only show in town, as former Bray man Hunter Parris showed on his holiday visit to Newry this week.
Hunter has lived in America for 17 years and has recently moved to Southern Pines, a town he has fallen in love with.
On his first trip back home in over ten years Hunter decided to call in to The Bridge Bar in Newry to exchange sports jerseys. Pat O'Donnell, the owner of O'Donnells his local Irish pub in Southern Pines had remembered The Bridge from his travels here years ago and had reccommended he called.
Owner Colm McAvoy was on hand to accept his donation of a Southern Pines Rugby jersey and present Hunter with a Newry Rugby top.
As Hunter explains "Since rugby and support from our local pubs and their patrons are engrained in both towns' culture, I saw it only fitting to have a piece of that culture from each town hanging up for all to see.
"Colm didn't have any notice I was coming unfortunately, but managed to locate a Newry jersey for me which he is going to give me to take back with me. I've noticed the same passion, love, and hospitality from Newry that I felt in Southern Pines. Truly a remarkable comparison of sister cities separated by thousands of miles."
