Niles Delegation Visits Leixlip, Ireland

A delegation from Niles visited Leixlip in June 2007 to participate in the annual Leixlip Festival.  Niles was represented by Trustee Louella Preston, Village Manager George Van Geem and Detective Commander Dennis McEnerney.  The Village officials were accompanied by four students from Notre Dame High School in Niles who comprised a jazz quartet.  The young musicians, as well as their faculty advisor, performed on the main stage at the Festival.

The Festival weekend was also an opportunity to join with Leixlip and their French Sister City, Bressuire, in celebration of the ten year anniversary of their Sister City partnership.  Niles Trustee Louella Preston presented a proclamation to the Mayors of Bressuire and Leixlip in recognition of their many years in the Sister City program. 

The Niles delegation was very warmly received by the people of Leixlip, with several official and social events designed to bring our communities closer together.   One such event, the planting of a ceremonial tree at the new Town Center, is shown below.

The mission of Sister Cities International is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation - one individual, one community at a time.  In addition to Leixlip, the Village of Niles has a Sister City relationship with Pisa, Italy; Napflion, Greece; and Limanowa, Poland.

All expenses of the Sister Cities program are funded by private donations.  The annual fundraiser, Taste of Sister Cities, is held annually, in November, at the White Eagle Banquet Hall in Niles.