Forging tourism links with Langenfeld

TALKS on the potential to package Ennis and Clare for the tourism market in Germany have taken place between members of Ennis Town Council and local government officials from Germany.

TALKS on the potential to package Ennis and Clare for the tourism market in Germany have taken place between members of Ennis Town Council and local government officials from Germany.
Business, cultural and tourism ties between Ennis and Germany have been strengthened as the five local government officials from the German industrial town of Langenfeld visited Ennis over the bank holiday weekend.
Ennis Town Council hosted the delegation’s three-day visit. It was the second time that members of Langenfeld City Council have visited the Clare county capital.
Langenfeld is located between Düsseldorf and Cologne in North-Rhine-Westphalia, in the district of Mettmann. It is already twinned with Senlis (France), Gostynin (Poland) and Batangas City (Philippines).
Relations between Ennis and Langenfeld have been developing over the past three years, strengthening links in the areas of culture and youth affairs. A delegation from Ennis Town Council visited Langenfeld in late 2010, while a group of students from Ennis also attended an International Youth Conference in the German city.
“The weekend visit enabled officials
from both councils to further explore the range of opportunities that can be developed for the residents of both Langenfeld and Ennis,” explained Mayor of Ennis Michael Guilfoyle.
Commenting on the background to the partnership, he said, “Langenfeld is a modern German city with a population of 60,000. The city administration actively sought, with the assistance of the Irish Embassy in Berlin, to develop links with Ennis as an English speaking historic town. Over the years a great friendship has developed between our two towns and I look forward to building and growing this relationship.”
Speaking following a reception for the travelling delegation at Waterpark House, town clerk, Leonard Cleary said a range of discussions took place between council officials on ways to further strengthen ties between the towns.
He stated, “The Langenfeld delegation outlined that German visitors are seeking a visitor experience that embodies a quality of life in a natural environment. As a result, the potential to package Ennis and Clare for the tourism market in Germany was discussed. Indeed over the past number of years, many visitors from Germany and other countries have utilised Shannon as their preferred access point to Ireland.”
Mr Cleary continued, “Talks also are underway to develop an exchange between the business communities in both towns, as well as the potential for the exchange of second level students between Langenfeld and Ennis where students are learning English and German respectively.
“It is hoped that Ennis will link in with a German industrial delegation from Langenfeld that are intending to visit Dublin in May this year”, he concluded.