From 6 to 9 August, the delegation of the Municipality of Ardara (Italy) will travel to Ireland for the first European twinning event with Ardara, Donegal
The Municipality of Ardara, Sardinia, will be in Ireland for the first event of the European project ARDARA² – Two Lands, One European Vision, funded by the European Union under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values – CERV Programme, call CERV-2025-CITIZENS-TOWN-TT, dedicated to town twinning initiatives.
The project also stems from the support and networking work carried out by Focus Europe ETS – The Network of European Territories, which supported the Municipality of Ardara in pursuing one of the objectives indicated by Mayor Dr. Francesco Dui: to identify and reach the namesake community of Ardara, County Donegal, Ireland, transforming a geographical and nominal curiosity into a concrete opportunity for European cooperation.
The project is coordinated by the Municipality of Ardara, Sardinia, with Awake Tourism CLG, a community organisation based in Ardara, County Donegal, Ireland, acting as associated partner.
The public project profile is available on the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-details/43251589/101287598
The first twinning event will take place in Ireland, in Ardara, County Donegal, where the main project activities will be held from 7 to 9 August 2026.
The project is built on a unique and symbolic connection: two small European communities, both called Ardara, one in Sardinia and one in Ireland, geographically distant but united by the willingness to build a shared path of cooperation. ARDARA² – Two Lands, One European Vision aims to transform this nominal link into a real and lasting transnational collaboration based on solidarity, civic participation, inclusion, European identity and the enhancement of local cultural heritage.
Image courtesy ardara.ie Facebook page
The initiative aims to involve citizens, young people, institutional representatives, associations and local communities in a process of exchange and dialogue. The objective is to strengthen European awareness in rural and peripheral areas, promoting dialogue between cultures, languages, traditions and visions for the future of Europe.
The delegation of the Municipality of Ardara will be led by Mayor Dr. Francesco Dui and will include institutional and technical representatives of the Municipality, including Deputy Mayor Massimiliano Foe, Municipal Councillor Rossano Baracca, President of the Ardara Town Council Dr. Cristina Zoroddu, Project Manager of the Municipality of Ardara Architect Dario Seddaiu, and Project Manager and Interpreter Architect Lorenzo Calares. Citizens and young people selected by the Municipality of Ardara will also take part in the mission, experiencing the twinning directly and representing the Sardinian community in the exchange with the Irish community.
On the Irish side, the welcome will be coordinated by Awake Tourism CLG and the community of Ardara, Donegal. A central role will be played by Sean Cannon Earley, Vice Chair of Awake Tourism CLG, who, together with representatives of the local community, is coordinating the welcome and the activities on the ground. The following representatives will also be involved: Conor Classon, Director; Hugh Boyle, Director; Michael Molloy, Director; Thomas McWhinney, Director; Lauren McHugh, Member; Aidan McHugh, Member; and Emma Kennedy, Member.
Subject to institutional availability, representatives of Donegal County Council are also expected to be involved, including Cllr Gary Doherty, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council; Cllr Anthony Molloy, Cathaoirleach of Municipal District of Glenties; and Shane Smyth, Tourism Officer with Donegal County Council.
Image courtesy ardara.ie Facebook page
The event programme includes institutional moments, meetings with the local community, presentation of the project, civic dialogue activities, cultural visits and participation in significant local initiatives. Planned activities include attendance in the Ardara Agriculture and Industrial Show 2026, a visit to the John Molloy Factory with a weaving demonstration, a visit to Ardara Distillery, moments of discussion at Heritage Centre Ardara, the possible involvement of an interview on local community radio station Owenea FM, as well as visits to representative local sites such as Assaranca Waterfall and Glengesh mountain pass.
The event will also be an opportunity to enhance Sardinian and Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, bringing into dialogue two communities that share similar dimensions, rural roots and a strong local identity. The presence of young people has particular significance: the project aims to offer new generations a concrete experience of European citizenship, encouraging mutual knowledge, participation, international openness and new opportunities for cooperation.
“This project represents an important opportunity for Ardara to open itself to Europe, starting from its own identity,” said Mayor Dr. Francesco Dui. “The link with Ardara, Donegal, begins with a shared name, but it can become much more: a stable relationship between communities, citizens, young people and institutions. We want this experience to be the beginning of lasting cooperation, capable of generating new cultural, social and project opportunities.”
The ARDARA² project is part of European initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic participation, the sense of belonging to the European Union and cooperation between local communities. Through this twinning, Ardara Sardinia and Ardara Donegal intend to build a bridge between peripheral territories, demonstrating how small communities can also be active protagonists of the European project.
The event will be documented through photographs, videos, interviews, participants’ testimonies and communication activities on the institutional and social media channels of the partners. The results will subsequently be promoted as part of the project’s dissemination and reporting activities.
