Kerry County Council is currently reviewing all existing international twinning arrangements as part of a new plan to develop a formal policy framework for future global engagements.

The move follows a motion raised by Councillor Bailey at Monday’s full meeting of the local authority. Cllr Bailey requested a comprehensive list of all cities and regions currently partnered with the county, alongside details on the objectives of these relationships and the specific cultural or economic exchanges that have taken place in recent years.
In response, council officials stated that while twinning is a valuable tool for promoting social interaction and cultural heritage, future arrangements must also demonstrate a clear economic benefit to the county. Under the Local Government Act, local authorities are required to justify any twinning based on the potential benefits to the local community and the total cost involved.
The council is now in the process of creating a formal framework to guide governance and financial support for these partnerships. As part of a new Workforce Plan, a dedicated Twinning and International Affairs Officer is due to be appointed. In the meantime, a central email address has been established and is being monitored by the Community Department to handle all related correspondence.
Once the new policy is officially adopted, the council will consider providing specific financial resources to support international commitments. A full report on all current twinning links will be issued once this review is complete, ensuring that all town-to-town relationships remain active and beneficial for the people of Kerry.

Killarney Twinning Partners
Twin City / RegionCountry
CasperiaItaly
Castiglione di Sicilia,Italy
Concord, North CarolinaUnited States
Cooper City, FloridaUnited States
Kendal, EnglandUnited Kingdom
Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaUnited States
PleinfeldGermany
Scottsdale, ArizonaUnited States
Springfield, IllinoisUnited States
StaffanstorpSweden