KENDAL could be about to have another twin' town and that's not just the blarney' talking.

Town councillors in Killarney, in the south west of Ireland, have fallen for the Kendal area in a big way, writes Helen Long.

In fact, a party of Killarney councillors who visited Kendal last year were so impressed that they have suggested twinning' with the Auld Grey Town. They feel that Kendal and Killarney could have a lot to offer each other through sport, culture, tourism, commerce, and possibly other interests as well. Now Kendal Town Council has received a formal letter from Killarney, asking if the twinning discussions could be taken further news greeted with enthusiasm by Kendal town councillors.

A four-strong party from the Irish town, including the mayor, is to visit Kendal on February 28 to meet Kendal town councillors. Town clerk Hugh McClorry is drawing up an itinerary, which could take in highlights such as the Mayor's Parlour, the Brewery Arts Centre and Kendal College.

Mr McClorry emphasised that the link should operate through the people of the town as it did with the successful Rinteln twinning not just through the town councils.

He told councillors he did not know if there were any "pockets of Irish residents" in Kendal. But he felt that connections between the people of the two towns was absolutely essential if any twinning arrangment was going to work.

"We need enthusiastic people who are ready to take on the link in the way that the Rinteln Association works," he told councillors, who welcomed investigating the idea further and asked Mr McClorry to report back on developments.

Coun Graham Vincent said the Killarney councillors' proposal for commercial links was especially interesting.

"There may be a disadvantage if we find ourselves divided by language though!" he joked.

February 7, 2003 10:31