Kildare continues to strengthen the longstanding twinning with Lexington, Kentucky through the 2025 Student Exchange Programme
22 July 2025: County Kildare once again welcomed a group of students from Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, 12 July 2025 as part of the annual Kildare - Lexington Student Exchange Programme.
A group of Kildare students had recently returned home from Lexington after a packed ten-day schedule of activities that included meeting the Mayor of Lexington, Linda Gorton and a tour of the council chambers. They also got to experience the 4th of July celebrations, with a festival and parade in downtown Lexington.
Both sets of students met up in Áras Chill Dara and participated in a ‘meet and greet’ with Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council, Leas-Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Councillor Vera Louise Behan, Councillor Fintan Brett, Chairperson of the County Twinning Committee and other committee members.
The Lexington students then took part in a week of activities, which included a visit to the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens and kayaking on the River Barrow in Athy. The group also had the opportunity to enjoy a scenic cycle along the Barrow Way in Athy.
The student exchange programme is one of the most successful aspects of Kildare’s twinning with Lexington and aims to provide second-level students, from both areas, with a genuine cultural and family experience in another country.
