Carlow to be paired with Luxembourg this year 

CARLOW has been paired with Luxembourg as part of an initiative that aims to strengthen links between European Union (EU) countries during the period that Ireland holds the presidency of the Council of the EU.

Ireland’s EU presidency term runs from July to December this year and, during that time, Luxembourg’s ambassador to Ireland, Florence Ensch, will visit Carlow and take part in different public events where Ireland’s role in the EU and its relationship with other EU member states will be discussed.

There are strong links between Carlow and Luxembourg, through the patron saint of Luxembourg, St Willibrord.

St Willibrord, an Anglo-Saxon, spent 12 years being trained at Rath Melsigi, Milford, Co Carlow and was ordained by the Bishop of Leighlin at his monastery at Old Leighlin before he left Carlow on his European mission in 690AD.

Carlow Kilkenny TD and minister of state at the Department of Health Jennifer Murnane O’Connor welcomed the announcement.

“Given Carlow’s strong connections to Luxembourg through St Willibrord, I had requested Luxembourg for Carlow’s pairing so I’m delighted to have worked with minister of state for foreign affairs Thomas Byrne on bringing this to fruition,” she said.

“As part of the initiative, the county will participate in a range of public events including talks at local libraries and visits to schools, as well as engaging with the local authority and local communities,” she added.

Minister Murnane O’Connor also complimented the work of Carlow Co Council in forging the links between Carlow and Luxembourg, particularly Carlow museum curator Dermot Mulligan.

Kildare was paired with Austria, Laois with Malta and Wexford with Slovakia.