CORK County Council has ruled out hosting an educational and cultural event to celebrate Kinsale’s twin town Antibes.

At a recent meeting of Bandon Kinsale Municipal District Cllr Gillian Coughlan asked if the local authority would consider hosting an educational and cultural event to celebrate Kinsale’s twin town Antibes.

She said it could showcase their cultural, culinary and maritime links and would be all the more appropriate given that Cork is to be twinned with France for the duration of Ireland’s presidency of the European Union.

Cllr Alan Coleman (Ind) seconded her motion and said the twinning of Antibes in France needs a ‘lift’ as the other twinnings associated with Kinsale are much more prominent.

Cllr Marie O’Sullivan (FG) also lent her support to the motion and said it’s very important that they ‘ignite’ the twinning with Antibes.

‘Kinsale Community School has been very proactive in maintaining the links.

‘The fact that there is a new flight from Nice to Cork it means it’s important to maintain those links,’ said Cllr O’Sullivan.

‘Our former town council put a lot of effort into this twinning back in the day so from a cultural point of view our neighbours in Europe will be very important for us.’

Municipal District officer Brian Dunne said the twinning with Antibes began in 1990 and the links between both towns has been very beneficial.

‘Cork County Council recognises the importance of this twinning arrangement and is committed to ensuring it is maintained for the years ahead,’ he said.

However, he pointed out that four international twinning arrangements exist in the Bandon Kinsale Municipal District with Newport in Rhode Island being the most active and is marked by annual civic events.

‘Any future events in relation to Antibes would require additional funding through the general municipal allocation.’