Bundoran represented at annual Douzelage general meeting in Greece

Shane Smyth, Joe McNulty, Hannah McNulty, Denise Connolly and John Campbell travelled to the Greek partner town of the 34-year-old organisation, of which Bundoran has been a founding member.

Some 140 delegates from 21 of the 28 member towns - one for each of the EU27 and the UK - attended the General Meeting, which also saw youth and education representatives from across Europe descend on Preveza for three days.

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The theme of this year’s meeting was sustainable tourism, with presentations given by leading Greek experts on the subject, as well as outlining best practices.

Shane Smyth also chaired the meeting in his capacity as Douzelage President following his election in 2024 for a three-year term.

Speaking on his return, he said: "It was my great honour to chair my first Douzelage General Meeting, a daunting task that involved a lot of preparation, but there was great support in the room for me, especially from my Bundoran colleagues. I’d like to thank our hosts in Preveza for their organisation, as well as my three vice presidents for their continued encouragement. Douzelage has been a significant part of my life since I first went to a General Meeting in 2014 and while a lot of business is completed during the meetings, the sense of friendship, collaboration and cooperation between the 28 towns is unmatched."

With Bundoran holding the presidency, there have been significant efforts to increase the visibility of Douzelage across Europe with participation in events like the St Patrick’s Day parade in Bundoran, the Douzelage Young Musician’s Festival in Sušice, Czech Republic, and the Pfingstritt in Bad Kötzting, Germany.

The Bundoran delegation also took the opportunity to network with representatives from across Europe, exploring new possibilities for collaboration in areas such as education, culture, youth exchange and sustainable tourism. Discussions are already underway for potential joint projects that could see Bundoran benefit from shared European knowledge, resources and visibility, further strengthening its position as an active and engaged member of the Douzelage network.

Looking ahead, preparations are being made for the 50th General Meeting of Douzelage, which will take place in 2026, marking a major milestone for the organisation. With Bundoran at the heart of its leadership, the local team is keen to ensure the town continues to play a strong role in promoting European cooperation, cultural understanding and friendship. The Douzelage connection remains a powerful reminder that even small towns can have a big voice on the European stage