In 2008 Fermanagh and Bielefeld celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their twinning partnership, the oldest twinning links in Ireland, and to commemorate this, representatives from Fermanagh have been invited to visit Germany to attend the Annual International Spring Days Festival from 24-27 April 2008.

The Partnership was initiated in 1958 through the Fifth Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards who were based near Brackwede and following on from that both partners have been involved in a variety of exchanges over the years.

The 40th Anniversary was celebrated in Fermanagh in 1998 when 145 visitors from Bielefeld spent eight days in September with a programme of events each day organised by the Twinning Sub Committee.

The Festival in Brackwede next April will have as its motto "Northern Ireland" and consist of a programme of performances by artists from both Bielefeld and Fermanagh.

In order to progress this proposed visit in 2008, the Council has set up a Twinning Group which will deal with the arrangements. Artists, musicians and dancers, reflecting different traditions in the County are being sought to perform at the Festival and an advert was placed in the press some weeks ago seeking expressions of interest with a closing date of Friday 15 June 2007.