New bid to revive 26 year Newcastle twinning links

New bid to revive 26 year Newcastle twinning links

20 February 2013

A CALL has been issued for Newcastle’s twinning link with New Ross in Co. Wexford to be re-established.

A public meeting was held in the resort last week to discuss the issue and a further meeting is being held next month.

Councillor Patrick Clarke is urging Down Council to play a leading role in reforming the link between Newcastle and its southern twin and wants local authority officials to make contact with their counterparts at New Ross Town Council.

The ties between both towns were established in 1985 and councillor Clarke suggesting the link has the potential to provide a tourism boost for both areas. But the twinning partnership has not been active for the past few years.

Down Council has been asked to provide the necessary funding required to rejuvenate the link and it was agreed at last week’s public meeting in the resort to reform the Newcastle and District Twinning Association.

Councillor Clarke said many people believe Newcastle could benefit from revitalising the link with New Ross, offering potential to build cross-community, cross-border and tourism links between both towns.

He said a range of community groups, clubs and organisations across the resort are being invited to the public meeting on March 21 in the Newcastle Centre to formally re-establish the Newcastle and District Twinning Association and make plans for the future.

Councillor Clarke said original members of the Twinning Association outlined at last week’s meeting that exchange visits between the town and New Ross were being organised up until a few years ago.

“For some reason, the formal twinning link has not continued and it’s important that it’s re-established,” he continued.

Councillor Clarke has raised the issue with Down Council chief executive John Dumigan and local authority tourism officials, asking them to help and provide assistance to the Newcastle Twinning Association.

He said this year’s Festival of Flight in Newcastle presents an opportunity to organise an event to which people from New Ross could be invited to attend. Councillor Clarke said the twinning could link could be officially reformed at this stage.

“Down Council has a budget for twinning associations and I hope money can be made available for Newcastle to link up again with New Ross. There is a genuine willingness for the partnership to continue,” said Councillor Clarke.

He added: “With the assistance of Down Council, Newcastle Chamber of Commerce and all interested parties, I believe the Newcastle and District Twinning Association can achieve future success.”