04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wicklow Male Voice Choir to receive funding for twinning trip to Germany
Twinning arrangements between towns and areas in different countries help to develop a better understanding of other nationalities and cultures, and Wicklow town is twinned with Eichenzell, as well as Montigny-Le-Bretonneux in France and Montigny-Le-Bretonneux in France.
At April's monthly meeting of Wicklow Municipal District, the elected members were informed that up to 37 members of Wicklow Male Voice Choir will join the Wicklow Twinning Committee as they head over to Eichenzell from June 20 to June 22, at a total cost of €14,500 for flights. While the choir will subsidise some of the costs, they still have their accommodation to pay for.
The flight costs are exasperated by the large costs involved in flying all of their instruments over, while they are also required to bring two professionals along with them.
The choir hasn't made the trip over to Eichenzell since 2011 and in June are due to perform at an Irish night taking place at the cultural centre, which will be attended by the local mayor. They have also been invited to an official reception where they will be representing Wicklow.
Cllr Paul O'Brien said: 'I wish them well. Everyone knows how positively I feel about twinning. It opens up so many doors to different local community groups. It's a coming together pf peoples from different countries. I have to say Eichenzell give a lot back to us in Wicklow as well. I know there is a delegation from Eichenzell who are meant to be coming over to Wicklow for the regatta and Taste of Wicklow, so if we had any funds in the twinning budget to assist the male voice choir, then that would be great.'
Cllr John Snell commented: 'The choir mainly consists of senior citizens who have contributed a life-time to doing their best and what is right. They come from all walks of life. It's not just Wicklow town they will be representing, but County Wicklow and Ireland as well.'
It was agreed to provide the choir with €2,000 from the twinning budget to assist with the costs of the trip.
