The spa town of Lisdoonvarna in Co Clare has been twinned with another spa town - in Portugal. Aguir da Beira, in the north east of the country, with a population of 5,000, has become the first Portuguese town to twin with an Irish one. The exercise will benefit both areas, says Ms Marian O'Callaghan, director of the Lisdoonvarna Community Council.
For two years, the Lisdoonvarna team behind the project had been looking for a similar type of town with which to associate. Aguir da Beira had been in decline as a spa centre. It needed a fillip. Last June, Portuguese officials, including the mayor of the town Mr Joacquim Lacerda, travelled to Lisdoonvarna to set things in motion.
The rapport between the two communities began to develop and last February 17 people from Lisdoonvarna went to the Portuguese town on a return visit. In turn, Portuguese officials have been back to Lisdoonvarna and a twinning agreement has been signed.
Much of the preparatory work was done through the local FAS Community Employment Scheme - the largest one in Co Clare. There will be further visits both ways and the hope is that the link will create greater interest in the two spa towns, bringing not only more tourists but generating a cultural and social bond that will endure.