Young Longford visitors pay visit to France

26 Jul 2024

Longford Leader

Earlier this week 10 young people and two leaders Paddy Howe Jr. and Chantelle Connell will start their journey to Essert, France as part of the 27th Twinning of Ballinamuck and Essert, Franche Comte.

They have prepared for the visit by fundraising, doing a First Aid course, a swimming assessment and engaging in conversational French. The young people will stay with host French families and the whole group of young people – Irish and French will engage in a range of activites including water based activities at the Malsaucy Water Sports Centre to raise awareness of the Olympics.

There will be a focus on environmental awareness: getting around by bike or on foot or by bus, keeping waste to a minimum during the exchange.

The foundation of the twinning between Ballinamuck and Essert, Franche Comte in France was laid in 1996 when Ballinamuck was preparing to commemorate the bi centenary of the Battle of Ballinamuck, the last battle of the 1798 Rebellion. The local Ballinamuck group sought to twin with St. Nabord in the Vosges region, the birthplace of the French General Humbert, leader of the French troops at the battle. However, the group who came forward to twin were from Essert in nearby Franche Comte.

With the support of Longford County Council, the twinning was formally inaugurated in Essert in May 1997 when the twinning oath was signed by both Longford and Essert councils. Since then the relationship has deepened and developed over the years with many joint projects, visits taking place.

As the collaboration developed, including the young people of each area became a focus of the work. Each visit now includes a youth project where the young people of both areas work together on a project remotely initially and complete during the visit. There have been may projects over the years, environmental projects, collage, upcycling furniture, creating musical instruments from discarded materials, cooking, sewing, work experience, music, making vegetable containers and growing vegetables in them, the list is comprehensive.

Members of the Ballinamuck twinning group as part of their preparation for the 27th Twinning with Essert, completed Basic First Aid and also Hands for Life CPR.

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