Members of the Rochester–Waterford Sister City Committee will visit Waterford in September to conduct workshops with regional organisations and local civic leaders to build foundations for business, tourism, educational and cultural development programs.
The Waterford committee and local agencies in Rochester have been working with the City Council, Failte Ireland, IDA and WIT leaders for several months in preparation for this effort.
The energy in the Sister City relationship has really picked up over the last three years. Mayor Robert Duffy and his delegation visited Waterford in 2008 to celebrate the 25th anniversary as Sister Cities.
Rochester has had visits from Cllr Davy Daniels as Mayor, the late Dick Fanning and former Mayor John Halligan. The Comhaltas groups have exchanged trips during that time. The annual Waterford-Rochester Charity Golf tournament has done much to maintain relationships for over 25 years and supports worthy causes in both regions.
The committees feel the time is right to make an effort to take the Twinning relationship to the next level and that is to forge the knowledge and relationships required to draw benefits for citizens in tourism, business and educational exchange programs.
The Rochester visitors are looking forward to meeting Mayor Mary Roche and the hospitality always extended by the Waterford community.
