By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Castle
It was time to celebrate the Sister Cities agreement, also known as a twinning ceremony, between Enniscorthy and Blacktown, near Sydney, Australia, with a roof top Civic Reception at Enniscorthy Castle this evening.
Claire Lawless, District Manager, acted as master of ceremonies and welcomed everybody including Minister James Browne TD, Cllr John O’Rourke, Leas-Cathaoirleach Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Cllr Lisa McDonald, Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council, Cllrs Trish Byrne and Barbara-Anne Murphy, Carolyne Godkin, Director of Services and from Blacktown City Council Mayor Bunting, Kevin Poilly, Manager of Events and Sister Cities; Donna Wallace, Manager of Greenspace Services; and Blacktown City Youth Ambassadors Caiden Bond and Laura Corvalan.
Leas-Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council Cllr John O’Rourke said “This evening’s reception provides an opportunity not only to formally welcome our guests from Blacktown City Council but also to celebrate the enduring links between our communities and to look towards future opportunities for co-operation and friendship.
“This return visit is another important step in building lasting connections through friendship, cultural exchange and tourism,” said Cllr O’Rourke, who added; “Thank you for making the journey to Wexford. We sincerely value our friendship with Blacktown and look forward to many more years of collaboration.”
Mayor Bunting said; “It’s only new but I already feel this relationship is going to grow further and further because of genuine interest from both sides of the world to grow.
Speaking directly to Cllr O’Rourke, Mayor Bunting said; “John, I would be more than happy to invite you back to Blacktown because I think it’s important that we do travel. We have stopped listening to the media regarding its a junket! These things aren’t about a councillor going overseas and having a holiday. These things are real connections, things that we can learn from each other to make sure each city is a better place for learning from other places around the world.
“So again, thank you for your great hospitality here in Enniscorthy and I look forward to the next couple of days and a bigger brighter future for our cities,” concluded Mayor Bunting.
Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Cllr Lisa McDonald also expressed her appreciation and supported strengthening the relationship between Blacktown City Council and Wexford in the years ahead.
There were many exchanges of gifts including a magnificent design of the Enniscorthy town crest by Martin’s Jewellery, Wexford, while Mayor Bunting presented Cllr McDonald with a didgeridoo, a traditional wind instrument from Indigenous Australian culture, played by vibrating the lips and using circular breathing to produce a continuous drone.
The pleasant ceremony concluded with entertainment from the Martina Leacy Academy and the Kay Keeley music and dance group.
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