The Mayors of Ennis, Co Clare, and Langenfeld, Germany, today signed a twinning charter establishing formal links between the two locations.
Langenfeld is located in North-Rhine-Westphalia between Düsseldorf and Cologne, in the district of Mettmann. The city is already twinned with Senlis (France), Gostynin (Poland), Montale (Italy) and Batangas City (Philippines).
Since the Irish Embassy in Berlin first facilitated contact between Ennis and Langenfeld in 2009, relations have been strengthening in the areas of culture and youth affairs.
A delegation from Ennis Town Council visited Langenfeld in late 2010 followed by a visit by a group of Ennis students to an International Youth Conference hosted in the West German city. The Mayor of Langenfeld led a delegation to Ennis in March to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade while soccer players and officials from four local soccer clubs visited Langenfeld last month as part of a sports exchange.
Speaking after formally signing the twinning charter with Mayor of Langenfeld Frank Schneider, Mayor Coote Ryan said: “It is a great honour for Ennis to have been selected by Langenfeld as its Irish twinning partner. I look forward to the outcome of the various cultural and community exchanges between the towns over the coming months and years as both locations seek to build further on the links that have already been established.”
Commenting on the background to the twinning link, Ennis Town Clerk Leonard Cleary explained: “Langenfeld is a modern German city with a population of 60,000. Four years ago, the city administration actively sought to develop links with Ennis as an English speaking historic town. With the involvement of the Irish Embassy in Berlin, the Mayor of Langenfeld suggested developing links with Ennis and extended an invitation to the Town Council to visit Langenfeld. Since then, relations between both locations have blossomed and we are delighted to be able to enter into an official twinning partnership.”
Today's ceremony at City Hall Langenfeld also included the announcement that young people from Langenfeld will participate in a student exchange commencing in January 2014 during which students from the German city will attend St. Flannan’s College and Colaiste Muire from January to May. The Ennis Language School is also progressing plans to host similar exchanges next year.
Langenfeld is located in North-Rhine-Westphalia between Düsseldorf and Cologne, in the district of Mettmann. The city is already twinned with Senlis (France), Gostynin (Poland), Montale (Italy) and Batangas City (Philippines).
Since the Irish Embassy in Berlin first facilitated contact between Ennis and Langenfeld in 2009, relations have been strengthening in the areas of culture and youth affairs.
A delegation from Ennis Town Council visited Langenfeld in late 2010 followed by a visit by a group of Ennis students to an International Youth Conference hosted in the West German city. The Mayor of Langenfeld led a delegation to Ennis in March to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade while soccer players and officials from four local soccer clubs visited Langenfeld last month as part of a sports exchange.
Speaking after formally signing the twinning charter with Mayor of Langenfeld Frank Schneider, Mayor Coote Ryan said: “It is a great honour for Ennis to have been selected by Langenfeld as its Irish twinning partner. I look forward to the outcome of the various cultural and community exchanges between the towns over the coming months and years as both locations seek to build further on the links that have already been established.”
Commenting on the background to the twinning link, Ennis Town Clerk Leonard Cleary explained: “Langenfeld is a modern German city with a population of 60,000. Four years ago, the city administration actively sought to develop links with Ennis as an English speaking historic town. With the involvement of the Irish Embassy in Berlin, the Mayor of Langenfeld suggested developing links with Ennis and extended an invitation to the Town Council to visit Langenfeld. Since then, relations between both locations have blossomed and we are delighted to be able to enter into an official twinning partnership.”
Today's ceremony at City Hall Langenfeld also included the announcement that young people from Langenfeld will participate in a student exchange commencing in January 2014 during which students from the German city will attend St. Flannan’s College and Colaiste Muire from January to May. The Ennis Language School is also progressing plans to host similar exchanges next year.
