From 6 to 9 August, the delegation from the Municipality of Ardara will be in Ireland for the first European twinning event with Ardara, Donegal
The Municipality of Ardara in Sardinia will travel to 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 assisted the Municipality of Ardara in pursuing one of the objectives set out by Mayor Dr. Francesco Dui: identifying and reaching the community of the same name, Ardara in County Donegal, Ireland, turning a geographical curiosity and shared name 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, as the associated partner.
The project’s public record is available on the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal:
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 stems from 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 desire to build a shared process of cooperation. ARDARA² – Two Lands, One European Vision aims to turn this shared name into real and lasting transnational collaboration, founded on solidarity, civic participation, inclusion, European identity and the promotion of local cultural heritage.
The planned activities include attending the Ardara Agriculture and Industrial Show 2026, a visit to the John Molloy Factory with a weaving demonstration, a visit to Ardara Distillery, discussions at the Heritage Centre Ardara and the involvement of the local community radio station Owenea FM.
The event will also provide an opportunity to celebrate Sardinian and Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, bringing together two communities of similar size, with rural roots and a strong local identity. The presence of young people is particularly significant: the project aims to offer younger generations a concrete experience of European citizenship, encouraging mutual understanding, participation, international openness and new opportunities for cooperation.
“This project represents an important opportunity for Ardara to open up to Europe, starting from its own identity,” said Mayor Dr. Francesco Dui. “The connection with Ardara, Donegal, stems from a shared name, but it can become much more: a stable relationship between communities, citizens, young people and institutions. We want this experience to mark the beginning of lasting collaboration capable of generating new cultural, social and project opportunities.”
“ARDARA² fully reflects the purpose of the work that Focus Europe ETS has carried out alongside local authorities for years: turning ideas from local communities into concrete opportunities for European cooperation,” says Giuseppe Cappai, President of Focus Europe ETS – The network of European territories. “The twinning between Ardara in Sardinia and Ardara in Donegal shows how even small communities can play an active role in Europe, celebrating their identity, involving citizens and young people, and building institutional and cultural relationships capable of lasting over time.”
The ARDARA² project forms part of European initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic participation, a sense of belonging to the European Union and cooperation between local communities. Through this twinning, Ardara in Sardinia and Ardara in Donegal intend to build a bridge between peripheral areas, showing how even small communities can play an active role in the European project.
The event will be documented through photographs, videos, interviews, participants’ accounts and communication activities on the partners’ institutional and social media channels. The results will subsequently be used in the project’s dissemination and reporting activities.
Official event agenda: ARDARA² – First Twinning Event in Ardara, Donegal, Ireland – 7–9 August 2026.
