The City of Sparks, Nevada and the County Longford, Ireland have shared a history that dates back to 1956 when Father Vincent Cunningham of Ely, Nevada sought assistance to provide additional Catholic education for local children. He petitioned the Covenant of Mercy in Longford who was willing to assist, and they helped establish both the Sacred Heart School in Ely, and school/convent in Sparks, Nevada that still stands today. With that evolving connection, the Town Council from Longford was received in Sparks and in 1976 action was taken between the two cities to officially form the “Twin.” At that time, Longford Park in Sparks was dedicated and recognized as the first twinning of a city in American with one in Ireland. As a gift to Longford in 2005, the City of Sparks commissioned a watercolor piece of Longford Park that was presented to the Longford Town Council by Mayor Martini during a goodwill visit to Ireland.

In January 2014, the City of Sparks received word that the local government in Ireland is being restructured, and the Longford Town Council will be abolished and replaced by a different entity. There is a small group of remaining councillors that would like to visit Sparks before they retire, and have requested that the Sparks City Council consider the possibility of their visit here this spring, in early or late March.