Sister Cities

• QUIMPER - Brittany, France
• SPOKANE - Washington State, U.S.A.
• CLOPPENBURG - Germany

Limerick City has long been at the forefront of establishing strong cultural and business links with peoples of other nations. In an effort to foster and encourage bonds of friendship and understanding between our city and other like-minded cities, Limerick City Council has established a Twinning Committee to nurture existing relationships and indeed to forge new relationships in the near future. 

To date, Limerick City is twinned with QUIMPER - Brittany, France and SPOKANE - Washington State, U.S.A. 

QUIMPER - Brittany, France

Limerick's first twin city lies a few miles inland from the sea at the confluence of the Rivers Steir, Jed and Odet, in Brittany, France. The city has a very temperate climate where, as soon as the winter is over, you can find mimosa, camellias, magnolias, tulips and azaleas all in flower. Quimper has characteristic industries - potteries, weavers, lace and pancakes. It is also the centre of an important agricultural region, as well as accounting for 40% of French fishing produce.

There is an astonishing amount of monuments built of Breton granite including St. Corentin's Cathedral, the City Walls, Bishop's Residence, old houses and hotels, and the lively shopping area in the city centre.

Quimper is also a great cultural centre - theatre, exhibitions, galleries, concerts, Breton museum, pottery museum and its recently renovated Fine Arts museum. The event of the year is the annual festival of Cornouaille, held during the third week of July, in which over 1,000 musicians and 3,000 dancers in Breton costumes participate. 

Quimper has a population of 70,000. Twinning committees in both cities  have as their objective the strengthening and broadening of the bonds of friendship between both cities, in every possible way.

Spokane - twinned with Limerick, March 4, 1990

Situated in Washington State, U.S.A., Spokane, with a population of 172,000, is Limerick City's newest Sister City. It lies 280 miles east of Seattle, adjoining the Rocky Mountains, and 100 miles south of the Canadian border. 

Spokane enjoys a four season climate, with low humidity all year round. It is the commercial hub of an area with a regional market of 1.5 million people. With four major hospitals, Spokane is the finest medical centre west of Chicago. There are a number of major universities in the area, including Eastern Washington, Gonzaga and Washington State universities as well as Whitworth College and the University of Idaho. 

Spokane companies manufacture aluminium, computer parts, machine tools, boats and a wide range of other products. Traditional industries such as agriculture, mining and timber are still important to the economy, while tourism continues to grow at a rapid rate. 

 Spokane offers a large variety of recreational opportunities with 13 golf courses, 4 ski areas and 76 lakes, as well as numerous galleries and performing art centres.