Pictured at the recent twinning arrangement signing in Providence were front row, l-r, Providence Twinning committee president Jo-Ann Ryan, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, Athlone Mayor Frankie Keena and Councillor Paul Hogan. Back row, l-r, State representative Mary Mercier, Patrick Griffin, vice president Providence Twinning committee; John Henson, secretary Athlone Twinning committee; Pat Murtagh, Westmeath County Council; Jim Mulkerrins, chairperson, Feile na Sionnaine, State representative Scott Slater.

"No reason" for councillors not to visit twinning towns

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To further enhance existing relationships with the twinning towns of Chateaubriant and Providence, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke has stated that the elected members of Athlone-Moate Municipal District must be facilitated to participate in such visits in the future.

Cllr O'Rourke raised the issue at a recent meeting of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District during which he said that there was "no reason" why all elected members of the District should not be in a position to travel to either of the twinning towns.

"There shouldn't be restrictions in place for elected members travelling to either Chateaubriant or Providence and a budget created by the District to facilitate such trips if the need arises," Cllr O'Rourke said.

Cllr John Dolan said that he would not mind making a contribution to future twinning trips as it was a great opportunity to meet and further develop relationships with the people of both towns.

Cllr Paul Hogan participated in his inaugural town twinning trip when travelling to Providence in March and noted Cllr O'Rourke's motion to be "timely".

"I had my first town twinning experience when travelling to Providence in March and the benefits to Athlone of this relationship will be seen in the time to come. There must be an opportunity for all elected members of the District to visit both towns and if there is a need to increase our budget to allow this then so be it," Cllr Hogan said.

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