Ambassador O’Brien attends celebrations for 35 years of town twinning between Clonakilty and Waldaschaff
Ambassador O’Brien travelled to Waldaschaff in Bavaria this week to attend the official celebration of 35-years of the town twinning between Waldaschaff and Clonakilty
Ambassador O’Brien travelled to Waldaschaff in Bavaria this week to attend the official celebration of 35-years of the town twinning between Waldaschaff and Clonakilty in West Cork. Amongst the over 200 attendees were Clonakilty Mayor Chris Hinchy, Chairperson of the Clonakilty Town Twinning Association, JJ Walsh, and a delegation of 60 others who travelled from Clonakilty for the occasion.
The link between the two towns began unofficially in 1982 with a partnership between musicians from Clonakilty and Waldaschaff, and a number of visits by groups from both towns ensued in the following years.
The official town-twinning was established in 1989. Since then, members of both communities have taken part in school exchanges, musical exchanges, sports initiatives and more, establishing a strong friendship between the towns, which continues to go from strength to strength.
As part of the 35th anniversary celebrations, an exhibition entitled ‘Irish Artists go Spessart’ was curated to bring the works of 11 West Cork artists to Waldaschaff. This exhibition forms part of Zeitgeist Irland 24, the year-long celebration of contemporary Irish arts and culture in Germany this year. The exhibition will run until 14th April. You can find more information on the exhibition, including opening times, here.
Ambassador O’Brien addressed attendees at the event, alongside Waldaschaff’s Mayor Marcus Grimm, Bavarian Healthcare Minister Judith Gerlach MdL, T.D. for Cork South West Christopher O’Sullivan and Deputy Landrat Andreas Zenglein. Below are Ambassador O’Brien’s remarks from the celebration:
Herr Bürgermeister, Frau Staatsministerin, Deputy, Ladies and Gentleman, meine Damen und Herren, a chairde,
Ich freue sehr, heute Abend hier in Waldaschaff zu sein, im Rahmen der Feierlichkeiten zum fünfunddreißigsten Jahrestag der wunderbaren Städtepartnerschaft zwischen Waldaschaff und Clonakility und der Eröffnung der Ausstellung "Irish Artists Go Spessart".
Insbesondere möchte ich mich bei Bürgermeister Marcus Grimm für die Einladung zur heutigen Abendveranstaltung bedanken.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is a real pleasure to join you here in Waldaschaff this evening, as part of the celebrations marking 35 years of the wonderful town-twinning between Waldaschaff and Clonakilty, and the opening of the exhibition ‘Irish Artists go Spessart’.
In particular, I would like to thank Mayor Marcus Grimm for the invitation to attend this evening’s event.
I am delighted that we are joined this evening by Minister Judith Gerlach, Clonakilty Mayor Chris Hinchy, T.D./Member of the Irish Parliament Christopher O’Sullivan and Aschaffenburg’s Deputy Landrat Andreas Zenglein.
I would like to congratulate and thank everyone who has been involved in planning the extensive programme of events surrounding this very special anniversary, especially Chairman Kurt Dyroff and the entire team of Freundeskreis Clonakilty, and J.J. Walsh, Chairman and the Clonakilty Town Twinning Association.
Thanks also to the Musikverein Waldaschaff and Clonakilty Comhaltas musicians for providing the music this evening.
Back in 1986, when the Musikverein Waldaschaff returned from their concert tour to Clonakilty, the members’ lasting impression of Ireland was that of the welcoming and friendly nature of the Clonakilty community.
This visit was one of the first stepping stones that lead to thriving town-twinning that exists all these years later.
Travelling around Germany, I have repeatedly been struck by the friendliness and openness which have greeted me across the country, and the welcome from German communities.
The friendship between our two countries continues to grow from strength to strength.
Auf meinen Reisen durch Deutschland bin ich immer wieder beeindruckt von der Freundlichkeit und Offenheit, die ich im ganzen Land erfahre, sowie von der Gastfreundschaft in den deutschen Gemeinden.
Die Freundschaft zwischen unseren beiden Ländern wird immer stärker.
There are many facets to our relationship.
The economic relationship between our two countries, for example, is stronger than ever.
Germany is in Ireland’s top three most important goods export markets, whilst Ireland has now entered Germany’s top 20 global trading partners.
Annual trade between our two countries is now worth €63 billion- a figure that has grown significantly over the past decade.
This has tangible benefits for both sides.
Over 100 German companies in Ireland employ more than 15,000 people across advanced manufacturing, technology, global business services and research, ensuring this partnership is vibrant, strong and enduring.
This includes a number of Bavarian-based companies such as Siemens, Allianz and Munich Re.
It is often not known that Irish companies have a strong presence in Germany and now employ 38,000 people in Germany, contributing to economic growth here.
Über 100 deutsche Unternehmen in Irland beschäftigen mehr als 15.000 Menschen. Dazu gehören eine Reihe bayerischer Unternehmen wie Siemens und Allianz. Oft ist nicht bekannt, dass irische Unternehmen in Deutschland stark vertreten sind und mittlerweile 38.000 Menschen in Deutschland beschäftigen.
As a means of strengthening our presence in Germany, we opened a Consulate in Frankfurt in 2019 and I am delighted to say that we will open a second Consulate in Munich this summer. The Consulate will support the growing number of Irish citizens and businesses based here in Bavaria and surrounding areas.
As an Embassy, we can do a certain amount in building relations between our countries.
However, the real strength comes through people-to-people links; the communities that work together.
Town twinnings are a means of developing strong links and a sense of community; to forge lifelong friendships and experience first-hand each other’s cultures and traditions.
The partnership between Waldaschaff and Clonakilty is a shining example of the positive and lasting impact a town-twinning has.
Over the past 35 years, Waldaschaff and Clonakilty have grown and developed links and friendships.
Die Partnerschaft zwischen Waldaschaff und Clonakilty ist ein leuchtendes Beispiel für die positive und nachhaltige Wirkung einer Städtepartnerschaft. In den letzten fünfunddreißig Jahren sind Waldaschaff und Clonakilty gewachsen und haben Verbindungen und Freundschaften aufgebaut.
Dozens of Irish students from Clonakilty have been afforded the opportunity to visit Waldaschaff and improve their German language skills, whilst experiencing the town’s culture and great sense of community for themselves.
Similarly, Waldaschaff students and members of the Freundeskreis Clonakilty can attest to the Irish ‘céad mile fáilte’, and the beauty of West Cork, from their many memorable visits over the past three and a half decades.
It is clear that both communities value and profit immensely from this relationship, one which I am sure will continue to deepen over the coming years.
To be celebrating 35 years of twinning is a testament not only to the enduring positive relations between our two countries, but to the hard work of the people and organisations who work to ensure that the links between Clonakilty and Waldaschaff continue to thrive.
This town-twinning is underpinned by the continued work of both communities, the generosity of host families, the dedication of school teachers, as well as the promise of ‘craic agus ceol’, ‘Freude und Freunde’ that every exchange entails.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you all on this great achievement, the benefits of which are felt at so many levels.
To turn to the other element of tonight’s event, I would like to commend the artists and organisers involved in creating the “Irish Artists go Spessart” Exhibition, which launches this evening- especially Anne Marie Harte, who initiated this project to bring the works of West Cork Artists to Waldaschaff.
Appreciation of the arts is another pillar that links Ireland and Germany, and it is wonderful that the works of eleven acclaimed Irish artists are being showcased here over the coming week.
I am delighted that “Irish Artists go Spessart” forms part of Zeitgeist Irland 24 – the year-long programme of contemporary Irish arts and culture throughout Germany, an initiative of the Embassy and Culture Ireland.
The works on display this evening are a great example of creativity and constant exploration and adaptation of traditional forms for contemporary audiences.
Since the launch of Zeitgeist Irland 24 in January, German audiences have been able to further experience this dynamism and creativity at the events taking place right across the country.
Over the course of the year, more than 200 events encompassing music, dance, theatre, performance, visual arts and cross-disciplinary projects, will see not only renowned artists from Ireland but also up-and-coming creatives showcase their latest work here in Germany.
Ladies and gentlemen, as members of the Waldaschaff-Clonakilty community, you are well aware of the importance of town-twinnings, and the breaking of barriers which it facilitates.
The vibrancy and strength of this community does not happen overnight.
It takes years of dedication, communication and co-operation.
Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do, not only for Waldaschaff and Clonakilty, but also for the German-Irish relationship. Thank you once again for your hard work, your contribution and dedication. 35 years of town twinning is a remarkable achievement and one you should be very proud of.
Ich wünsche Ihnen allen einen schönen Abend und auf weitere fünfunddreißig Jahre wunderbarer Freundschaft.
Here’s to a memorable celebration this evening, and to another 35 years of this wonderful friendship.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh. Vielen Dank.