There have been numerous exchange visits between Sligo and Kempten since their Twinning Association was established 30 years.
While restrictions imposed during the Covid pandemic have interrupted these contacts, Mayor of Sligo Municipal District, Councillor Rosaleen O Grady and Mayor of Kempten Thomas Kiechle were anxious to find a way of maintaining this long-standing friendship while travel restrictions are in place.
Kempten which is twinned with Sligo since 1990, is in Bavaria, close to the Austrian and Swiss borders and 40kms from the ski slopes of Oberstorf, famous for hosting the Winter Olympics some years ago.
On Thursday last, the Mayors hosted a virtual meeting , which included a special message from German Ambassador to Ireland Deike Potze, who is a regular visitor to Sligo.
The frightening cost of fire bills issued to landowners in West Sligo where extensive fires blazed in May and June of last year has led to one councillor calling on the council to reflect on whether farmers should be asked to pay.
Cllr Joe Queenan said that 20 property owners in the Culleens and Gleneaskey areas had been issued with bills, some of up to €4,000, after the Fire Service was in attendance for lengthy periods in order to fight the blaze. His motion called on the council to withdraw the bills.
The Enniscrone-based representative told the meeting that it was unfair that the farmers had to pay the bill for a fire for which they were not responsible. He said in many cases, a lot of damage had been done to land in the area and many farmers had been already negatively affected through damage to fencing and loss of grants.
Fleadhfest has the opportunity to be the most innovative event held in Ireland this year.
That s according Fred Finn branch member Micheal Ó Domhnaill, who along with Bartley Gavin, addressed councillors on the upcoming event, set to be held in Sligo in early August of this year.
Covid-19 has put an end to the traditional form of Fleadhanna around the country, but Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will this year compensate for their absence with Fleadhfest, which is set to be a predominantly online celebration of Irish music and culture.
However, in the event that the Covid-19 situation improves, it could become the case that Fleadhfest from August 1st to 9th will more closely resemble the traditional format, as memorably held in Sligo in 2014 and 2015.
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