Convoy set to be twinned with USA namesake

Convoy residents embark on a twin-track celebration starting tomorrow, Saturday.

They are reconnecting with their railway past and looking forward to completing the journey by establishing formal contacts with another Convoy in Ohio, USA.

Both projects involve the energetic Convoy Community Environmental Committee. This group has been working tirelessly on creating improvements around the village but these two must rank among their most ambitious to date.

Their spokesman, Liam Mailey said the committee had been working on getting a mural designed on the wall of the village post office building which was kindly consented to by postmaster, John Moore. It will be officially unveiled this coming Saturday, September 2 at 11am by local railway historian, Kerry Doherty.

“The train came in from Strabane and Letterkenny and served the village well until it was closed down. We thought it only right to mark its role here with a mural depicting the old station and an original ticket,” he said.

The twinning project came about following information provided by a former local, Ray Bonar who now lives in Naas, Co Kildare. His research led him to make contact with the city of Convoy in Ohio, USA and together with his son Gerard, they established how the village got its name.

“This village was named by and established by an Irish emigrant, from Convoy, called Robert Nesbitt (1810 - 1879). Next year 2024 Convoy Ohio will celebrate its 150 Years on July 12, 13 and 14 and thanks to Ray, we are hoping to look forward to exploring ways in which we can link with this occasion," said Mr Mailey

He outlined how Robert Nesbitt was born in Convoy in December 1810. He emigrated to the United States and moved to Van Wert County, Ohio in the late 1830s.

“In 1839 Nesbitt purchased 120 acres in Tully township. On June 16, 1854 Nesbitt and a James Pettit designed a village in the western part of |Van Wert County. Nesbitt named the town Convoy after his Irish roots.

“At the age of 47 Nesbitt married Catherine Byers and resided in Tully township for about 40 years. He served as a Justice of the Peace for nine years and died in May 1, 1879 of typhoid pneumonia. He was 68 years and seven months old. He was noted to be a ‘straight-forward, well-to-do farmer and was much respected by a host of friends’.”

He added people in Convoy were looking forward not only to Saturday’s big unveiling but also exploring ways to help Convoy Ohio mark its 150th anniversary.

“We will be hoping to get involved in some way and will be looking to bodies such as Donegal County Council to help us in this regard. It’s going to be an exciting time for both Convoy groups,” he said.