READING celebrated a quarter of a century of twinning with Clonmel, Eire, during a three-day visit by civic dignitaries from Co. Tipperary last weekend.

Debs Edwards, the Mayor of Reading, welcomed the Clonmel equivalent, Richie Molloy, to a special evening at Reading Town Hall, where both towns signed a reaffirmation charter.

In a speech after the charter signing, Dick O’Brien, chairman of the Reading Clonmel Town Twinning Association, thanked both Mayor’s for their support.

He said: "I am very pleased that our long-standing friendship is being officially recognised today, we must celebrate the kinship between us and take it forward into the future.”

During the evening guests were entertained by Irish dancers and took the chance to view local photographer, Chris Forsey’s exhibition 'Reading and Clonmel: A Twinning History' which had been transferred from the Holybrook Gallery.

On Saturday, despite the icy conditions underfoot, the civic party visited Reading Museum and Abbey Quarter and had a guided tour of the Forbury Gardens and Abbey ruins, followed by a visit to the Reading Irish Centre.