News from Newport, Rhode Island, USA. Fresh from their visit to Brand USA Travel Week, Discover Newport from across the pond. Twinned with Kinsale since 1999, the two coastal towns boast renowned restaurants, brightly painted villages, rich military history, charming shops and a captivating harbour. While Cork has commanding castles, Newport is home to the Gilded Age Mansions and so much more.
Newport in Rhode Island is Twinned with Kinsale in Cork
“This Twinning/Sister City relationship has been wonderful for the entire Kinsale Community. Businesses, sports organisations, schools, cultural attractions, the culinary scene and community have embraced this twinning fully,” stated John Twomey, Chairmen of the Kinsale, Ireland Twinning Committee. “The people of Kinsale and Newport equally feel at home in their visits to the other city. Great friendships, and even a marriage or two, have developed from the twinning. We now look forward to the next 25 years,” added Twomey.
The twinning of the two cities was initiated by the late Paul Crowley, a RI state representative, local restauranteur, and Chairmen of the tourism bureau formerly known as the Newport County CVB (now known as Discover Newport), in conjunction with Rick O’Neill and David Kerins of Newport.
Nurtured by Newport’s own Irish community and heritage, the two cities quickly formed a strong bond that included many cultural exchanges, from sharing cuisines during the Annual Kinsale Festival of Fine Food, to forming relationships between the harbour masters, fire, and police departments, educational institutions, all who learned from each other’s infrastructure progress in their home city.
“Over the last 25 years, the relationship with Kinsale has been a true partnership, and one that has created lifelong friendships with many of our hospitality partners. We are honoured to be celebrating 25 years of sisterhood with Kinsale and look forward to many more years to come,” stated Rick O’Neill, head of the Twinning Committee in Newport, Rhode Island.
“Rhode Ireland” – World’s Shortest St. Paddy’s Day Parade
The ‘World’s Shortest St. Paddy’s Day Parade’ (89 feet long!) that takes place in our region in Little Compton, Rhode Island, the branding of the parade is cleverly named ‘Rhode Ireland’. In 2025, they had a fun and friendly dispute with Hot Springs, Arkansas, which claimed to be the shortest parade, but alas, Little Compton won at 89-feet!
The team at Discover Newport highlighted activities coming up in 2026, including the opening of Newport Historical Society’s Center for Black History, the 120th Anniversary of the Newport to Bermuda Race, the 150th Anniversary of Newport Polo (the first polo club in America), and so much more.
ITTN Reports from Newport
Newport is home to the Gilded Age Mansions, and ITTN’s Shane Cullen toured many lavish mansions located along Rhode Island’s famed coastline during the Discover New England Summit. In fact, scenes from the first two series of HBO’s Emmy award-winning historical drama ‘The Gilded Age’ were filmed at numerous locations around Newport, including at The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer, Hunter House and Kingscote.
Visiting the Newport Mansions
A number of the properties are open for visitors, though it is recommended to plan ahead and book tickets. There are various guided tours and prices vary depending on the property. Check it out here.
There are also bundle tickets if you wish to see more than one of the splendid properties (visitors do not have to see all the properties in a single day with multi-property tickets).
