Twinning charter signed between Enniskerry and German village after two decades of grassroots links

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Enniskerry has been formally twinned with the German village of Steinweiler, sealing a community relationship that has grown over the past 20 years, through football trips, youth exchanges and long-standing personal friendships.

The charter was signed during a visit by a Wicklow delegation, with Cllr Melanie Corrigan describing the reception in Steinweiler as “incredibly warm” and the occasion as the culmination of years of informal cooperation between the two communities.

The partnership traces its origins to 2005, when Andreas Traem and Enniskerry FC organised the first youth football trip to the southwest German village. What began as a single exchange developed into an annual summer camp, running every year except during the Covid‑19 pandemic.

Many of the young people who travelled in the early years are now adults, and councillors say the longevity of the programme has created a deep reservoir of goodwill between families in both villages.

Steinweiler officials with Cllr Melaine Corrigan, Cllr Malachai Duddy, Bray district manager Jackie Carroll and district administrator Brian Wildes. © Melanie Corrigan

The signing of the charter marks the first time the relationship has been formally recognised, though both sides have long treated the exchange as a fixture of their community calendars.

Cllr Corrigan said the twinning agreement acknowledges the work of volunteers, who sustained the programme for the last two decades, and reflects the strength of the personal connections built over that time. She said the visit demonstrated how “friendships established through sport and youth activities can grow into something much bigger for a community”.

This year’s exchange is one of the largest to date, with a group of around 90 people, including children, parents and organisers, travelling from Enniskerry to Steinweiler, which is near the French border and celebrated its 1,050th year in 2018.

Local representatives said the scale of the delegation shows the continued appetite for cross community links and the value families place on the summer camp tradition.

The programme typically includes sports activities, cultural visits and shared events hosted by families in Steinweiler, with many participants returning multiple times.

Steinweiler officials welcomed the formalisation of the partnership, saying it provides a framework for future exchanges and opens the door to broader cultural and educational cooperation.

The twinning charter is expected to support applications for EU community funding and strengthen ties between local schools, sports clubs and voluntary groups.

Cllr Corrigan said the weekend’s events highlighted the “warm hospitality” shown by the German hosts and the pride felt in finally formalising the relationship. She said the twinning agreement will help ensure the summer camp continues for future generations.