Pictured: Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Richard Shiels, Donegal County Council, Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh, Mayor Jörg Reichl and Cllr Donal Coyle in Rudolstadt
By Rachel McLaughlin in Rudolstadt
People in the German town of Rudolstadt are already putting their names down for a 2027 trip to Letterkenny, thanks to a growing bond between the two towns.
The annual exchange is a sought-after trip due to an arrangement between Letterkenny and Rudolstadt since 2018 that has inspired years of promotion, cultural exchange and political and personal friendships.
About 20 places on the Rudolstadt trip are reserved for councillors, teachers and others involved in the formal side of the twinning, while the rest of the seats on the coach are open to the wider public. The upcoming trip in September 2026 is fully booked.
Mayor of Rudolstadt, Jörg Reichl said there is no shortage of interest.
“Everybody is able to come with us,” he told Donegal Daily.
“It is not cheap to come to Letterkenny, but nobody has ever complained about it,” he said.
Those travelling pay their own expenses, including flights, transport and accommodation. When they arrive, they are hosted by Donegal County Council and get the opportunity to visit some of the fantastic attractions that Donegal has to offer.
This past weekend, the people of Rudolstadt have turned out in green to celebrate a St Patrick’s event featuring musicians flown in from Donegal. A delegation of 26 people from Letterkenny has been welcomed with open arms.
Letterkenny Trad Band performs in the Löwensaal in Rudolstadt during St Patrick’s Weekend 2026. On stage was Donal McGinley, John Muldowney, Cathal McGlynn, Eoin Parkinson and the Soggy Bottom Boys – Aaron Coleman, Matthew Melia and Ciaran McBrearty
Rudolstadt residents celebrate St Patrick’s Weekend
The local love for Letterkenny and all things Irish is incredible, given the fact that they knew little about either St Patrick’s Day or Letterkenny some 15 years ago.
Before the twinning was formally established, the stunning Heidecksburg Castle that overlooks the town was lit green for St Patrick’s Day.
This gesture was proposed by Karol Kerrane, a Letterkenny man who now calls the town home and runs the Letterkenny Irish Pub.
The castle was the first step in sparking a curiosity about St Patrick’s Day, and a small festival blossomed from the spirit of the Irish feast day.
“The festival works so well because it comes after a hard, grey, cold winter in Germany,” Mayor Reichl said. “People are very happy to have the first big social event of the year.
“The days are getting longer, all is coming up with life, and so it is the right time to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.”
Heidecksburg Castle lit in green for St Patrick’s Weekend
Karol Kerrane’s role in the partnership between the two towns has been central from the beginning. The Mayor was in Ireland with his wife at Christmas 2016 when Karol invited him to make the journey north-west. There, he walked in Glenveagh National Park with Jimmy Kavanagh, who was Mayor of the Letterkenny MD at the time.
“Karol had the plan of the town twinning, but he told nobody,” the Mayor remarks.
It wasn’t a hard sell either, the Mayor had already been won over by the beauty of Donegal, and the warmth of its people.
“I was very impressed by the nature and the landscape, but also by the amazing people,” he said.
After years of visiting Donegal and forging friendships through the twinning, Mayor Reichl said he still finds it hard to single out one favourite part of the county
“I love the friendly people, the heartwarming culture, the hospitality, and of course the stunning landscape.”
He also joked that one local product tastes better on Irish soil.
“Guinness is more delicious in Ireland than here,” he said.
Marko Wolfram, Landrat of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Mayor Jörg Reichl, Councillor Donal Coyle and Karol Kerrane, co-owner of the Letterkenny Irish Pub in Rudolstadt at the opening of the St Patrick’s Weekend 2026
Karol Kerrane, Melissa Bruhn, Cllr Gerry McMonagle Roisin Kavanagh and Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh with Rudolstadt locals at the opening of St Patrick’s Weekend 2026
Rudolstadt is also twinned with Bayreuth in Bavaria but the partnership with Letterkenny was never intended to be limited to politics.
Schools make exchange trips between Ireland and Germany and there are collaborations on music, arts and community groups.
This year, Mayor Reichl is looking forward to seeing an artist exchange which will see a non-verbal pantomime being staged in both Rudolstadt and the RCC in Letterkenny.
There’s also a collaboration in the making between a local cosmetics firm artefactum GmbH which will import Donegal seaweed and incorporate its goodness into skincare.
“I would be very happy if there could be more cooperation between companies, so that there is industrial development on both sides.”
“I have a new idea, which is an orchestra exchange,” he adds.
“My idea is that our symphony orchestra could come to Letterkenny with their instruments and perform a special symphony concert there.”
He’s already pitched this idea to the Turingian government for funding and Councillor Gerry McMonagle, chair of An Grianán Theatre’s board of management, has also pledged his support in securing backing for the visit.
For Mayor Reichl, the success of the twinning lies in its ability to connect ordinary people and create genuine understanding between communities.
He said: “Rudolstadt is a small town in the east of Germany, in the former GDR (German Democratic Republic). When people think of east Germany, they may not always think first of openness to the world or friendliness to foreigners. But we want to show how welcoming we are, and how important exchange with the world is to us.”
“It is very important that we Europeans stand together,” he said. “We have to accept each other, accept each other’s rituals, and work together to create a proper future.”
Rudolstadt’s love for Letterkenny grows as locals line up for 2027 trip was last modified: March 22nd, 2026 by Rachel McLaughlin
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