How’s the form Corktown Detroit?

Historical links between Cork and Detroit, Michigan stretching back to the Great Irish Famine will be honoured on Leeside next week with the arrival of some very special guests.

Claudia Rea and Sarah Gum are from Corktown, one of the city of Detroit’s oldest neighbourhoods where many Corkonian immigrants settled in the mid-1800s having fled the famine in Ireland.

Ms Rea and Ms Gum will be visiting the Rebel County next week as part of the Queen of the Detroit United Irish Societies Program, a scholarship competition for young women of Irish descent.

Sheila Cassidy, Chairwoman for the Queen of the Detroit United Irish Societies Program, said: “Our programme has been running for over 60 years, promoting Irish heritage, culture, and traditions, while empowering women of Irish-American descent.”

Since 2015, scholarship awardees have visited Ireland each year with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

The contestants for the scholarship are interviewed before a live audience and judged based on their knowledge, composure, and presentation of all things Irish.

The programme has since developed a partnership with Cork County Council with a number of elected members taking part in the Corktown St Patrick’s Day Parade over the years.

Ms Rea and Ms Gum will be in Cork from 8-10 August.