|
|
|
EVENTS Members of the Dublin Sister City Association enjoy many social functions throughout the year.
About Sister Cities International The Sister Cities International (SCI) program traces its roots to 1956 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a people-to-people citizen diplomacy initiative. Originally a part of the National League of Cities, SCI became a separate, non-profit corporation in 1967 due to the tremendous growth and popularity if the U.S. program. It has become a great way to learn and share each others cultures, as well as, a way to make new friends. Visit the Sister Cities International Web Site In 1986, looking for a way to bring two cultures together, Pete Snyder, former Mayor of Dublin, and Bill Foster, a local Insurance salesman, thought it would be rewarding to find a city/community, to expand our horizon and step out of the boundaries of Dublin and into the lives of people abroad. With its Irish roots and its same name, Pete and Bill were hoping Dublin, California could be a Sister City to Dublin, Ireland but unfortunately, Dublin, Ireland was already involved with other Sister Cities and declined. They did suggest we might find it more beneficial to locate a city more comparable to our own in size and population, unlike Dublin, Ireland, which is a much larger city. At the same time, Pete and Bill were on their quest, Fr. John O’Connell, from the city of Bray, Ireland, and coincidentally the cousin of long time Dublin resident, Marie Cronin, was also pursuing a Sister City for Bray. He happened to be visiting with Marie, while on his quest as well, and ultimately, through Marie, he was put in touch with Pete and Bill. This union led to Ronan King, head of the chamber of Bray Ireland at the time, and after much correspondence between Ronan and Pete, our Sister City was found. In 1987, after incorporating the Dublin Sister City Association, Pete continued to communicate with Ronan, and extended an invitation to Ronan to come to our city of Dublin for an official visit, which he did, along with other visitors from Bray. In 1988 the invitation was returned, with our first visit to Bray. This was highlighted by the Dublin California High School Band leading the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland , which also happen to be its 1000 year anniversary as a city. Since that time, each year, starting with the Green and White Gala, several members of Bray come to visit us on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, where they participate in our parade and festivities. This has led to many personal relationships between members of Dublin Sister City and Bray, as well as, the membership as a whole. We hope to continue what started out of a desire to meet new people, and to further enhance our link to the people of Bray, with new members to our association. Please join us to continue this tradition. OUR SISTER CITY - BRAY, IRELAND
"Bray" means "hill, rising ground". The location is
dominated by Bray Head, which rises 790 ft above the sea, affording views of
mountains and ocean. Bray is the only example in the Republic of Ireland of a seaside resort town. By the middle of the 19th century, Bray, due to tourism development, was known as the Brighton of Ireland. The fisherman's huts, with their nets and boats on the shore, were replaced with elegant houses and hotels for the prosperous Victorian visitors and the new residents to Bray. Originally a one-street town, Bray is now a busy urban center serving south county Dublin and Wicklow. The town retains some of the reminders of the distant medieval past and much of its outstanding Georgian and Victorian architecture. Bray makes an ideal place for walkers and strollers of all ages. There is the "Slí na Sláinte" (The Healthy Walk) which is 8.75 miles of signposted coastal and urban walks in and around the town. There is also the scenic cliff walk - 4 miles around the side of Bray Head to Greystones which offer fine views all the way up the Dublin coast. Also available in the immediate vicinity are golf courses, tennis courts, fishing, sailing, horse riding, snooker, cinemas and night-clubs. There are also a number of large festivals that take place in Bray. Other attractions in Bray include the Old Courthouse (1841), Victorian seafront and Bray harbour (1891), St. Paul's Church (1609), Bray Town Hall, and Ardmore film studios. For more information, visit the Bray Ireland website at http://www.bray.ie.
Last updated on 05/05/02. |
Dublin, California has an Irish Sister City - Bray. Bray has a population of
about 26,000 and is known in Ireland as the "Gateway to Wicklow".