Lord Mayor reactivates twinning agreement between Dublin and Liverpool

Dublin’s historic ties with Liverpool are being officially reignited as the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, visits the city today to lead the reactivation of the twinning agreement between the two cities.  

Originally signed in 1997, the agreement acknowledges the deep cultural, social, and economic connections between Dublin and Liverpool—two cities that have long shared a unique bond.  

Speaking about the visit, Lord Mayor Blain expressed her enthusiasm for strengthening the relationship between the two cities.  

“It is my immense pride and pleasure to visit the city of Liverpool to reactivate the twinning agreement between Dublin and Liverpool,” she said. 

“Our two cities have long shared a much-cherished connection, and I hope that this visit will help strengthen those bonds.”  

Highlighting Liverpool’s reputation in music, arts, commerce, industry, sport, and education, she emphasized the shared heritage between the cities.  

“Like many Dubliners, I have a family connection to the City of Liverpool. It is a place I have visited many times, and I am always struck by the warmth and welcoming nature of the people.  

“I hope that my visit will be seen as a reciprocation of this warmth and welcoming from the people of Dublin.”  

The visit also reinforces official ties with Liverpool’s civic leaders, including Lord Mayor of Liverpool Richard Kemp CBE and the Leader of Liverpool City Council, Liam Robinson, both of whom have welcomed the renewed collaboration.  

With shared histories of migration, trade, and cultural exchange, this renewed twinning agreement promises to deepen cooperation between the two cities for years to come.  

Across the world cities pair with other cities to create international relations.

These connections are known either as “twinning” or becoming a “sister city”.

The twinning of places developed in Europe after World War II, with the aim to provide a framework that would enable those cities to learn more about each other in the aftermath of the conflict.  

The towns or cities which are twinned should have something in common such as their geographical setting or industrial base.

A sister city is a term used primarily in the United States and Canada, whereas twinning is used primarily in Europe and other parts of the world.