The Charter provides that the Counties will design and implement cultural and educational exchanges including, but not limited to, student and teacher exchanges, sports teams, cultural and arts exchanges etc.
To build on the relationship the Laois local authority has begun the process of establishing a County Laois Sister Cities Committee. The council says the aim is to underpin and support the Charter and to foster, develop and implement opportunities for engagement with Williamson County.
Invitations to join the committee were accepted up to the middle of November. No specific qualifications were required. The council said volunteers will have the opportunity to develop the Charter/Agreement to the general benefit of communities in Laois.
There have already been several exchange visits between Laois and Williamson since the link was established more than 20 years ago.
The latest saw Cllr Padraig Fleming, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council and Simon Walton, Interim Chief Executive, travelled there in August to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Williamson County Fair.
Williamson County has population was 247,726 and the capital is Franklin. The county is named after Hugh Williamson, a North Carolina politician who signed the US Constitution.
