Sister Cities Summit in Dublin will celebrate US-All Ireland links
Cities and Counties from the USA and Ireland gather tomorrow (April 21st -24th) in Croke Park. The Summit, the first of its kind in the world will identify projects and actions that cities can take together to improve business, education and social justice.
It will be attended by some 200 US city mayors, business, education and youth leaders from many of the sixty United States cities that are twinned with Irish local authorities. The Summit marks the centenary of 1916 and also the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Sister Cities International by President Eisenhower.
A one-day conference in Croke Park Conference Centre on 22 April will be addressed by President Michael D. Higgins and will be attended by 400 US and
Irish delegates involved in reciprocal twinning programmes. The conference theme is Independence & Interdependence and will focus on celebrating the historical ties between US and Irish civic society, business, cultural and education institutions. The Conference is co-hosted by San Jose California and Dublin. San José, third-largest city in California is known as the Capital of Silicon Valley and has been twinned with Dublin since 1986. The initiative has helped to develop civic, cultural, economic, educational, artistic and athletic ties between San José and Dublin, as well as Silicon Valley and Ireland.
Mr. Peter Finnegan, Director, International Relations, Dublin City Council, which is organizing the event with support from Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said “The Summit highlights the unique relationship between the USA and the Island of Ireland which has found particular expression through investment, business and innovation, as well as the Irish peace process. It is a fantastic opportunity to promote Ireland as a location for investment, study, tourism and business events, as well as building new partnerships between business, higher education, youth and civic leaders.”
