Next Tuesday, August 14th, Skibbereen branch of Comhaltas will be visited by a group of forty members of St Louis Irish Arts Comhaltas from Missouri, USA. The purpose of this visit will be to officially twin Skibbereen Comhaltas branch with their North American counterparts. The connection between the two branches came about when visitors from St Louis visited the Skibbereen Seisiun show and went home to America bringing word of the strength of the local branch and of the great traditional music scene in Skibbereen with them. Last June, Skibbereen Comhaltas received an invitation from Helen Gannon, Chairperson of St Louis Irish Arts and also Chairperson of Comhaltas North America to bring a group to St Louis to teach, perform and form a friendship between the branches. The visit to St Louis was truly a memorable one for the Skibbereen musicians and dancers, and following on from that visit, the St Louis group will now visit Skibbereen to continue the link between the two branches The St Louis group will arrive in Skibbereen next Tuesday to the West Cork Hotel where they are being hosted courtesy of Skibbereen Comhaltas. That evening the membership of Skibbereen branch will join with the St Louis group for a Welcome Reception and Ceili. On Wednesday, the group will start their day with a visit to Skibbereen Heritage Centre, followed by a trip westwards to visit Mizen Head, Barleycove and Schull. The West Cork Hotel will be focus of attention on Wednesday night as Skibbereen Seisiun group present their final Seisiun of the summer season. The St Louis group will perform both as guest artistes and with the Skibbereen musicians on the night. The most important function of the evening will be the official twinning of the two branches. This will be the first time an Irish branch has twinned with an International branch so it is of huge historical significant not only for both branches but to the Comhaltas organisation as a whole. Ard-Runai CCE Tomas O Maoldomhnaigh will be guest speaker. On Thursday, the American group will pay a visit to Cape Clear with a music session on the Island. They will conclude their visit around West Cork on Friday with a visit to Bantry, Glengarrif and Garnish Island. Friday evening, Skibbereen Town Council will accord a Civic Reception to Helen Gannon and the St Louis group. The U.S contingent will depart Skibbereen Saturday morning for the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Tullamore, hopefully leaving with many happy memories and with lots of new friends.