Ireland vs. Chicopee basketball program

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - It started as a "sister city" program between Springfield and Tralee, Ireland in the 1990's, but it's blossomed into an international display of brotherhood.

Both the Chicopee Comp and Chicopee High School basketball teams were playing scrimmage games with the Tralee Team from Ireland Thursday night at Chicopee Comp.

Richard Neal established the sister cities program when he was mayor of Springfield, and the teams have been coming over every two years ever since.

Springfield City Councilor and game organizer Tim Rooke told 22News, "It's been a great exchange throughout the years. A great experience for a lot of the kids, as well as some of the parents who have come over here as well."

Jim Diggins, Assistant Coach of the Tralee Team told 22News, "That was one of the reasons we wanted to bring them over - to play against the Americans high schools. Beause that's where basketball was founded, here in Springfield.  So we knew coming over here, we'd get some good competition."

It's been an exciting trip for the Irish team.

They've already been to the TD Garden to see a Celtics game.

On Friday they will play a game versus Cathedral High School.

During their trip, they plan on visiting the Basketball Hall of Fame and attending a UMass Minutemen game.