German delegation enjoys another ‘successful’ Letterkenny visit - Donegal News

LETTERKENNY hosted another “successful” visit of a large delegation from its twin town in Germany.

LETTERKENNY hosted another “successful” visit of a large delegation from its twin town in Germany.

Some 55 citizens travelled from Rudolstadt in the eastern state of Thuringia to Donegal for the seventh official visit.

The two towns have been formally twinned since 2018 and delegations have been making the journey over and back ever since, with the only exceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An Irish delegation travels to Germany every year in March for the lively St Patrick’s Festival in Rudolstadt.

The Rudolstadt delegation arrived in Letterkenny on Friday and spent their time touring Donegal with a packed itinerary of events, taking in the best the county has to offer. They arrived to a warm welcome in the Radisson Blu Hotel with an address by Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District (MD), Pauric McGarvey.

Letterkenny band Bellows and Beats provided music. Among the visitors was photographer André Kranert, who performed a heartfelt original song called ‘Good Old Donegal’.

Local councillor Jimmy Kavanagh has been involved in the planning of the Rudolstadt visit.

“It was another very successful trip this year,” said Cllr Kavanagh. “The partnership is entering its tenth year and it’s going from strength to strength.”

Cllr Kavanagh said the delegation were particularly impressed with Donegal’s natural scenery and music.

The group were brought for a tour of the Ulster American Folk Park on Saturday. On Sunday, they visited a dairy farm in Carrigans, before taking in the breathtaking coastal scenery at Ards Friary. They enjoyed an evening of great food and traditional music at the Harbour Bar in Downings.

On their last full day in Donegal, the delegation travelled to the Crolly Distillery and returned to Letterkenny for a special farewell dinner in the Yellow Pepper Restaurant.

This year was extra special as a piece of Rudolstadt was handed over to Letterkenny.

German artist Ulrich Giller presented three paintings to Rudolstadt Mayor Jörg Reichl which were handed over to Cllr McGarvey at the final dinner. The watercolour paintings show the majestic Heidecksburg Castle, which overlooks Rudolstadt, as well as the Marienturm and Preilipper Kuppe. In return, Cllr McGarvey gifted a bottle of Crolly Distillery whiskey.

The partnership between Letterkenny and Rudolstadt has been growing from strength to strength.

One of the leading figures in establishing the twinning agreement was Letterkenny man Karol Kerrane, who founded the successful Letterkenny Irish Pub in Rudolstadt over ten years ago.

In 2017, Cllr Kavanagh and Mayor Reichl met in Glenveagh and took proposals for an official town partnership to the councils in Letterkenny and Rudolstadt. The official twinning document was signed the following year by former councillor Ian McGarvey, who was Mayor of Letterkenny at the time.

A school exchange programme has also been in place for the past few years, with students from Rudolstadt making the journey to Donegal.

St Eunan’s College, Coláiste Ailigh and Errigal College have all been involved with language exchange projects and strong friendships have formed between the two towns over the years.

A delegation from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania visited Letterkenny in July and the new Twinning Charter and Agreement was signed.

This comes 24 years after the now-dissolved Letterkenny Town Council first established links with the borough in Lancaster County.

Paintings of Rudolstadt by Ulrich Giller which were brought to Letterkenny. Photo: Stadt Rudolstadt Facebook.

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