Galway City Council today announced the appointment of an International Relations Officer – a new role to shape and drive a programme of activities and events to enhance the international profile of Galway City, as a world class city to live, invest, study, work and visit. Working as part of the Tourism team, the new International Relations Officer will engage with Galway’s Twinned Cities, promote Galway’s European designations including City of Culture, Region of Gastronomy, UNESCO City of Film, Green Leaf City and Net Zero City. The officer will drive a programme of engagement, focusing on cultural exchange and collaboration, learning and programme development, and exploring collaborative funding opportunities for Galway City internationally.
Speaking about the appointment, Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard, commented, “In today’s world, international relations are an important function for any modern, ambitious and outward-facing city. The City is a major economic force in the European economy – leading in foreign and indigenous commercial development, higher educational institutional achievement and workforce skills. In my role as Mayor, I’ve seen first-hand the potential for Galway City to build further economic and cultural ties with both our sister cities, and other cities around the world. In the past year alone, I’ve received delegations in Galway from France, Hungary, Japan, the United States, Canada, Nigeria, Albania, Antiqua, Poland and Palestine. As recently as last month, delegations to our U.S. sister cities of Milwaukee and Chicago led to dialogue about collaboration and exchange on both Economic and Cultural ties. This new role will be the key to unlocking these linkages and relationships, and building on the appetite from other cities internationally to engage and develop ties with Galway”.
Leonard Cleary, Chief Executive of Galway City Council said, “I’m delighted to welcome Keith Finnegan to Galway City Council, as our International Relations Officer. Keith Finnegan will be well known to many as the voice of morning radio in the region for many years. He has also played a significant role as the voice of Galway internationally, in his voluntary work with the Spirit of Galway Committee, where he has nurtured and maintained relationships with our sister cities of Milwaukee and Chicago over many decades. As part of our Tourism and Economic Development Team, the new International Relations Officer will work to maximise the value of our international relationships, to grow the international profile of the city through a structured programme of activity. An initial step in this regard will be the Development of an International Relations Committee of Galway City Council with key partners in the City. We look forward to seeing the impacts of this taskforce in due course.”
Brian Barrett, Senior Executive Officer, commented, “Galway City has always been outward facing, with a long history of international trade, economic and cultural exchange, from our time as medieval city of the tribes, to today, as the fastest growing city in Ireland over the past 50 years, with one of the top five internationally recognised med tech clusters. Our status as European Capital of Culture, European Region of Gastronomy, UNESCO City of Film, European Green Leaf City and EU Net Zero City create huge opportunities for Galway, in terms of industry, learning, and cultural exchange. This new role will build on these designations and relationships for Galway City, as part of our Local Economic and Community Plan for the City.
Recent high profile twinning initiatives include the 50th Anniversary of our first twinning with the City of Lorient, attendance at both the Milwaukee and Chicago Irish Fests. In 2026, Galway City Council will be celebrating a 40th Twinning Anniversary with both Seattle, USA and Bradford, England.
Karissa Perez, Director, Director, Global Strategic Initiatives, World Business Chicago, commented, “As one of the Twinned Cities of Galway City, we are delighted at the appointment of a new International Relations Officer in Galway City Council. Even though Galway City is Chicago’s smallest Sister City by population, Galway’s influence is enormous, and this role will allow us to grow our ties with Galway City and develop further a year-round programme that will deliver opportunities for the citizens of both our great cities.”