In a landmark event, the City of Savannah signed a historic Friendship Agreement with Limerick City, Ireland signifying a new era of collaboration and cultural exchange between the two cities.

The signing ceremony, which took place in Limerick, occurred during a special meeting at the Limerick City and County Council chambers in Dooradoyle.  Mayor Van R. Johnson II of Savannah and Mayor John Moran of Limerick formalized the agreement in the presence of esteemed officials, including Príomh Comhairleoir Cllr Dan McSweeney and Director General Dr. Pat Daly of Limerick City and County Council.

The Savannah delegation also included key figures such as Savannah City Manager Joseph A. Melder, President of the Savannah Economic Development Authority Trip Tollison, President and CEO of Visit Savannah Joe Marinelli.

This Friendship Agreement aims to foster mutual understanding, promote tourism, and encourage economic development through shared initiatives and projects. Both cities, similar in population size and location on estuaries leading to the ocean, are poised to benefit from this partnership.

Mayor Van R. Johnson II expressed his enthusiasm: "We are literally sister cities. We have folks in Savannah named Hogan, Barry, and McCarthy who can draw their direct lineage here in Limerick. I think the significance of the delegation level you send shows your seriousness about this."

Mayor John Moran highlighted the potential of this collaboration: "I spent an hour or so with Mayor Johnson in my office, and we had a roundtable just trying to find concrete actions we can do. It could mean student exchanges backwards and forwards. We're talking about actual policy exchanges that deal with the same issues of housing. How do we get density? How do we attract the talent that we have in Limerick? And so I think there could be some really interesting things."

The two-day visit included an economic roundtable discussion with key stakeholders from the Mid-West region, encompassing the IDA, Limerick Chamber, Enterprise Ireland, and local third-level educational institutions. Discussions focused on exploring avenues for economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and educational partnerships.

Savannah boasts a rich Irish heritage, with one in four residents claiming Irish ancestry. This agreement honors these deep-rooted connections and paves the way for future collaborations to benefit both communities.