Liverpool and Dublin reignite twin city agreement
Liverpool and Dublin have begun the process of reinvigorating their twinning agreement.
A sister city arrangement was signed back in 1997 as a mark of the long and shared history between the two.
Now, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, has visited Liverpool to meet with her counterpart Cllr Richard Kemp, Council Leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, and Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram.
They have discussed mutually beneficial ways in which the two cities can work together in areas such as culture, tourism and the wider economy.
Councillor Robinson said: “Here in Liverpool, 75% of us have some form of Irish heritage, so it was brilliant to welcome the Lord Mayor of Dublin, so we could talk about how we reinvigorate our partnership.
“We have a great opportunity to work together post-Brexit, and focus on some of the economic links that we share as two cities and how we can strengthen that over the years ahead.”
Lord Mayor Blain said: “It is my immense pride and pleasure to visit the city of Liverpool to reactivate the twinning agreement between Dublin and Liverpool.
“Our two cities have long shared a much cherished connection and I hope that this visit will help strengthen those bonds.
“Dublin and Liverpool have strong historic cultural, social and economic connections which extend across all aspects of Liverpool’s renowned reputation for music and arts, commerce and industry, sport and education.
“I am looking forward to visiting the University of Liverpool Materials Innovation Factory and Institute of Irish Studies as part of my visit, and wish to thank them for hosting us.
“Like many Dubliners, I have a family connection to the City of Liverpool, it is a place I have visited many times and am always struck by the warmth and welcoming of the people. I hope that my visit will be seen as a reciprocation of this warmth and welcoming from the people of Dublin.
“My sincere thanks to The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Richard Kemp CBE, and to the Leader of Liverpool City Council, Liam Robinson, for their gracious invitation and their eagerness to develop this connection even further.”