In 2019, the Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr James Collins, and the Mayor of Austin Texas, Steve Adler, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a special ceremony in Austin. This event was the beginning of a formal process towards the establishment of a Sister Cities relationship between Austin and Limerick.
In 2019, the Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr James Collins, and the Mayor of Austin Texas, Steve Adler, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a special ceremony in Austin. This event was the beginning of a formal process towards the establishment of a Sister Cities relationship between Austin and Limerick.
The Memorandum of Understanding identifies opportunities for collaboration between our two cities in the areas of business, technology, manufacturing, professional services, research & development, education and the creative industries. The agreement will allow partnerships to be formed enabling industry, education and cultural interests on both sides to capitalise and learn from each other.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, progress on developing the relationship and progressing initiatives set out in the memorandum has been slow. However, ties between the two cities are to receive a boost, when this weekend, at the Passport to the World Festival in Texas, the Mayor of Austin is set to announce the recommencement of the partnership with Limerick and highlight some of the initiatives outlined in the MoU.
The annual Passport to the World Festival, which is taking place in Downtown Austin on Saturday, December 3rd, is a family friendly event celebrating Austin’s International Sister City partnerships through culture, music, dance, interactive games and friendship. The event, which attracts a very large crowd, is free to attend and all Austin based Limerick Diaspora are invited to participate. Tickets can be found through www.eventbrite.com and searching “Passport to the World Festival”
Commenting on the recommencement of ties with Austin, Vincent Murray Director of Economic Development and Enterprise Services at Limerick City and County Council said; “The formal bilateral trade and investment relationship envisioned by the MoU will allow entrepreneurs and businesses in Limerick and Austin to work closely for the benefit of both cities and regions. We aim to strengthen relations with Austin and deliver benefits in trade, enterprise, innovation, education and culture for both cities. This has the potential to create new employment opportunities, expand foreign direct investment and further R&D collaborations between our third level institutions”.
