Maintain sister city link - aim

The issue was raised at a meeting of Carrickfergus Borough Council’s Civic Subcommittee in February.

The town currently has sister city relationships with both Danville, Kentucky and Anderson in South Carolina.

With Carrickfergus having merged into the new MEA authority, questions have been raised over how the links will be maintained in the absence of the original council’s Sister Cities Committee.

Last year, local man David Robinson spent a week in Danville as Carrick’s cultural ambassador.

It is hoped that a resident of Danville will make a similar exchange visit to Northern Ireland this year, members were told.

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Billy Ashe noted the positive feedback on last year’s exchange and future relationships from all parties involved.

In response to a query on all sister city relationships being maintained, Cllr Ashe advised it was his belief that each relationship will have to be reviewed, as the number of sister cities varies between Larne, Ballymena and Carrickfergus.

Members agreed that the decision on the visit and the future of the sister city programme will be taken by the Mid and East Antrim Council.