A taste of friendship as Mayo welcomes new German Mayor to twin town

Traditional Franconian bratwurst made by a Castlebar butcher takes centre stage at Lough Lannagh Village event

A WARM Castlebar welcome has been extended to the new Mayor of Höchstadt an der Aisch, Alexander Schulz, and his wife Heike, as they made their first visit to Ireland.

The Mayor travelled with a delegation from Castlebar's German twin town, including long-time friends of Castlebar, Johanna and Bernhard Blum, along with representatives of Höchstadt's local council.

The group visited the town from October 12 to 15 and stayed at Lough Lannagh Village, where Castlebar Municipal District hosted a special welcome dinner to celebrate the friendship between the two communities.

Castlebar and Höchstadt have enjoyed an official town twinning relationship since September 2000, but the connections between the towns go far beyond formal agreements.

Over the years, lasting friendships have developed through school exchanges, cultural visits, community organisations and families travelling between Ireland and Germany.

One particularly special part of the welcome dinner was a dish that tells its own story of friendship between the two towns.

Local butcher Anthony Leneghan of Anthony Leneghan, The Family Butcher on Linenhall Street, Castlebar, prepared traditional Franconian bratwurst using a recipe shared with him by a fellow master butcher from Höchstadt who visited his shop and Lough Lannagh over the years.

What started as two butchers sharing their knowledge and skills has become a wonderful example of the friendships created through town twinning.

Anthony has continued to develop his skills in making the traditional German sausages, bringing together quality Irish meat and the flavours and techniques of Franconia.

The bratwurst was served at the welcome dinner alongside mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and buttered Irish cabbage, bringing a little taste of Germany together with the best of Irish produce.

Guests had the opportunity to enjoy traditional Franconian beer and wine gifted by Mayor Schulz of Höchstadt.

He reminisced on old tales of support, friendship and community, told by his town folk, speaking with gratitude of the shared memories and support of the people of Castlebar over the years.

For Lough Lannagh Village, the visit is another chapter in a friendship that has grown over many years.

Paul and Gerardine Lennon, along with Ronan O'Neill, have welcomed many visitors from Höchstadt to Lough Lannagh Village over the years.

Some have been returning for years, beginning with welcoming them as guests that has developed into lifelong friendships.

It's these personal connections that make the relationship between Castlebar and Höchstadt so special.

Johanna and Bernhard Blum are among those who have helped keep these connections alive, regularly visiting Castlebar and encouraging others from Höchstadt to discover the town and the wider Mayo area.

Paul, Gerardine and Ronan, at Lough Lannagh Village, said: "What we love about the twinning between Castlebar and Höchstadt is that it's not just about official visits.

"It's about the people and the friendships that have built up over the years. We've welcomed so many visitors from Höchstadt to Lough Lannagh, and it's lovely to see familiar faces coming back again and again.

"When you think about the students from Castlebar who have travelled to Höchstadt, and the German students who have come here through Davitt College, it's amazing how many people have been part of this friendship. For some, it's their first experience of another country, and years later those connections are still there.

"That's what makes this relationship so special.”

During their stay, the German delegation visited Davitt College, which has enjoyed a long-standing educational partnership with Realschule Höchstadt since 2002.

Through school exchanges and educational visits, generations of students from both towns have had the opportunity to experience each other's language, culture and way of life.

The delegation's programme also included visits to Westport and Achill Island, giving Mayor Schulz and his wife the opportunity to experience some of Mayo's beautiful scenery and hospitality on their first visit to Ireland.

The relationship between the two towns has also brought together local authorities, community organisations, businesses and cultural groups, creating connections that continue long after each visit has ended, with the potential for future gathering, events and business development.

The welcome dinner at Lough Lannagh Village was hosted by Castlebar Municipal District, recognising the importance of the long-standing relationship between the two towns and the contribution of those who have helped maintain it over the years.

Councillor Ger Deere, cathaoirleach, said: “Mayor Alexander Schulz’s visit marks the start of a new chapter in the twinning journey between the two towns.

"I acknowledge the strong links that have been developed between the schools and the fire service, and I commend all those who have worked hard over the past 25 years to ensure the success of the links.

"I look forward to continuing and building on this active partnership, creating new links between our communities and welcoming Mayor Schulz back to Castlebar for many more visits.”

The visit was an opportunity to recognise the many people who have helped build and maintain the friendship between Castlebar and Höchstadt for more than a quarter of a century.

From school exchanges and family friendships to traditional food and cultural celebrations, the partnership shows that town twinning is about much more than two towns signing an agreement.

It's about people getting to know one another, sharing experiences and building friendships that last.