Belfast & Nashville Celebrate 30 Years Of Sister City Relationship

A diverse delegation from Belfast is travelling to Nashville, USA, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between the two cities. The visit coincides with the Peace Summit, a peace and civil rights conference organised by Queen's University Belfast, Belmont University, and Fisk University in Nashville.

The Belfast delegation, led by Belfast City Council, includes representatives from academia, business, government, and non-governmental organizations. "It's a great honour to be travelling to Nashville to celebrate our Sister City relationship which has proven so significant for both cities in terms of business, culture, education, and tourism," said Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray. "The strength of the delegation is on a par with the relationship we have nurtured with Nashville – it speaks to the diversity and richness of our alliance. And the benefits derived really are mutual. In fact, Belfast has evolved to be able to offer advice and guidance to Nashville on becoming a UNESCO City of Music! It's exciting to see what the future holds for our relationship, in terms of trade, culture, and education."

A key part of the celebration will be the Lord Mayor's participation in the Peace Summit. This summit will explore the shared histories of conflict and resilience in Nashville and Belfast, using civil rights, storytelling, history, music, scholarship, and community engagement.

Professor Joe Duffy from Queen's University Belfast, who initiated the Peace Summit, commented: "This is an important event marking significant anniversaries for both Nashville and Belfast. The Summit will provide an opportunity to reflect on our collective histories and look forward to a future of collaboration and progress. We thus welcome the participation of the Lord Mayor and the wider Belfast delegation joining us for Peace Summit."

The Lord Mayor will also explore local LGBTQ+ initiatives and participate in economic development discussions to explore trade partnerships.

Previous outcomes of the Sister City relationship include business-focused trade missions and showcases, student exchanges between universities, and support from St Mary's University College musicians for St Patrick's Day celebrations in Nashville.