Trim affirms link with Scottish town Stirling

A DELEGATION from Stirling Council in Scotland was welcomed to Trim on Tuesday of last week to seal a partnership between the two towns which both boast castles from the 1300s. The group, led by Provost (Lord Mayor) Fergus Wood, arrived on Tuesday morning and were given a tour of King John"s Castle and the town by local historian, Noel French. That evening, the delegation was welcomed to Trim Town Council"s November meeting and, on Wednesday afternoon, a plaque was unveiled on the outer wall of Trim Castle in honour of the partnership. The idea of the civic partnership was initiated by Navan native Gerard O"Brien, who has been a councillor in Stirling for the past six years. Speaking to councillors, Provost Wood explained that Stirling is located between the highlands and the lowlands in Scotland and has a population of 87,000. He said that Stirling Castle is located in the middle of Scotland and, in the old days, 'he who controlled Stirling Castle, ruled Scotland'. It was home to the Kings of Scotland for several hundred years as it was the safest place to be in the country, he added. Provost Wood told councillors how the main industry in Stirling is tourism and it is also the agriculture centre of Scotland. There is a university in the town which has a student population of 9,500. He said that, in the old days of twinning, it was about 'having a few cups of tea or a glass of whiskey' but that, in these difficult times, it also has to be about generating business. Provost Wood said they were creating a relationship that brings in all stakeholders and they could learn a lot from each other. Kirsten Wood, who is an education officer with Historic Scotland, the body responsible for Scotland"s castles, told Trim"s councillors about education projects for local schools and also the junior guide programme where students from the local schools are trained to be guides in the castle, and are dressed in period costumes. Cllr Gerard O"Brien told councillors that his father was born in Trim and his uncle had been honorary Mayor of Trim. Cllr O"Brien said it had taken 700 years to bring about the new civic partnership and he hoped it would be an 'enduring inspiration across the generations and down the generations'. He added that the people in Stirling were similar to the people in Trim in that they were 'friendly, hard-working people' and that Stirling had a unique place in the national consciousness of Scotland, as Trim does in the national consciousness of Ireland. Trim Town Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Trevor Golden, said they would be creating ties with every area of the town and saw it as a wonderful opportunity for both communities, as he presented Provost Wood with an engraved vase on behalf of Trim Town Council.