Austrian Delegation Visits Kildare For Three Days Of Events

Wednesday, 23 September 2026 16:24

By Daniel Maher

The delegation includes ambassadors from both countries

Kildare County Council has welcomed an Austrian delegation to the county for a three-day programme of engagements beginning today (23 September).

The delegation includes Ambassador of Austria to Ireland Melitta Schubert and Ireland’s Ambassador to Austria Barbara Cullinane.

The visit forms part of Kildare County Council’s wider programme marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which runs from 1 July to 31 December 2026.

The programme aims to showcase Kildare, with a strong focus on youth engagement and visits to each of the county’s five Municipal Districts.

The visit began this morning with an event at Athy Library, which included introductions, an overview of the programme, and musical performances by Athy Youthreach and Music Generation Jazz Band.

Local schoolchildren also helped extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation before the group visited the Ernest Shackleton Memorial in Emily Square.

The programme also included a visit to the Athy Food, Drink and Skills Innovation Hub, where the delegation toured the facility and met local food producers and entrepreneurs.

The day concluded in Newbridge with a visit to Ryston Hall, where the delegation met the Newbridge Bad Lippspringe Twinning Group and received a short presentation on the history and benefits of town twinning, followed by a dance performance.