TUBBERCURRY-VIARMES TOWN TWINNING ’98-2011
HISTORY
Dominique Nocture and her twinning committee, approached us in August ’97 with an offer to investigate the possibility of a town twinning between her town Viarmes and Tubbercurry. Dominique had met Eilish Druet, a sister of Roger McCarricks from Tubbercurry, who now lives outside Paris.
On the 28th October ‘97 Dominique Nocture and Aude Missenard came and stayed with Teresa O’Gorman on the Station Road, for 4 days. They met some members of the Chamber, had a meal in the Yeats County and enjoyed their stay.
The Mayor of Viarmes wrote to us 16th October with a description of Viarmes. Population about 4,500, 35 Kms north of Paris, and despite this proximity it is still a little village surrounded by forests. He has been the Mayor since 1990. They are already twinned with a Swiss-Italian town called Morcote for the last 40 years! All of the children in Morcote know Viarmes and visa versa.
Viarmes boasts active soccer, tennis judo gymnastics, fishing and archery clubs. In the cultural arena they have theatre, song, dance, dance halls, photo club, stamp club, school of music and a choral society. They do not have any big factories in Viarmes so most of the workers in industry travel to Paris for work.
Nearby is the L’abbaye de Royaumont from 13th century. Also the Chateau de Chantilly 14th and the chateau d’Ecouen 15 century. Beautiful countryside with Vincent Van Goghs tomb is not too far away.
EVENTS FROM 2011 BACK TO 1998
2011 Town Twinning Trip to Cutigliano Italy A trip to Cutigliano (Italy) by a delegation of 11 people from Tubbercurry, Michael Coleman, Shane Mulkeen, Maeve Walsh, Eileen Murtagh, Mary & Barry Leonard, Keiran, Teresa and Laura Lundy, Bettina Feely and Shauna Haughey. The trip took place from Friday 3rd June to Monday 6th June, with events held Saturday and Sunday.
Cutigliano were celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their Twinning with Asnieres-sur-Oise (France). Invited to festivities were Tubbercurry and our Twin Town Viarmes, and Montale (Italy) and their Twin Town Senlis (France). The first event on Saturday morning and Shane Mulkeen speaking at the graveside of Massimo Bracessi, Mayor of Cutigliano when their twinning was founded. This followed a wreath laying at the Grave. We then went to the town hall where speeches were made and Michael signed a Friendship Agreement on behalf of Tubbercurry between all 6 towns participating. We were then treated to an open air lunch followed by entertainment provided by the local school children.
On Saturday night we were treated to some more fine entertainment by musicians, singers and dancers from local groups and members from visiting towns. Tubbercurry provided our entertainment at this event with Keiran Lundy singing Irish and Italian songs and Laura giving a performance of Irish Dancing.
On Sunday, Michael Coleman gave a talk on Volunteering in Ireland as did other towns. This was well received and worthwhile discussion took place afterwards. On Sunday afternoon we were taken to a local campsite for a barbecue and given a display of mountain rescue and first aid. Festivities were concluded on Sunday night with a Gala Dinner and some music and dance. A great time was had by all. On our return trip on Monday we were taken to the historical walled city of Lucca and given an informative tour of the city and its historical buildings. We also had a quick visit to the wonderful site of the famous leaning tower of Pisa before been left to the airport for our trip home.
2006 - 2010
Holy family National school visit to Viarmes Spring 2006
Walking Group trip to Viarmes April 2006
Castlerock National school trip to Viarmes October 2006
TWINNING BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS in October 2004, 72 Irish travelled to Viarmes to celebrate the 5th Birthday of the Twining with Viarmes. We had a boat trip on the Seine and climbed the Tour Eifel. Half of the group returned home on the Monday while the rest headed south on a wine tasting trip to Sancerre for 2 days. A most enjoyable time was had by all.
In April 2005 83 French guests visited Tubbercurry to celebrate Irish style the 5th birthday of the twinning. The theme of the weekend was the integration of people with disability in society. A day was spent visiting Gallagher House and many of the client from Gallagher house joined in the celebrations, Street Parade, Art Exhibition and drama over the weekend. On the Monday 25 french visitors and 20 Irish travelled to the Aran Islands and Galway City to savour Irish culture.
THE TWINNING HAPPENS
On 9th April 1999 87 ambassadors from Tubbercurry headed to Viarmes and celebrated the 1st part of the twinning process ie the ceremony to sign the Twinning Charter.
In October 1999 100 French came and stayed in host families in Tubbercurry and celebrated the Irish half of the Town twinning Ceremony. We had 220 people seated in St Brigids Hall for a very successful ceremony.
Since 1999 we have had a number of twinning exchanges. There have been 3 walking group exchanges, with approximately 25 participants on each trip. The Viarmes College of Music with a Mixed Choir and Orchestra of 42 performers came to Tubbercurry and all stayed in host families in 2002. Moylough National School Band visited Viarmes for St Patricks Weekend in 2004 with 68 participants between teachers, parents and pupils. We have had two youth soccer club exchanges which were very successful. There have also been individual family exchanges and attendances at French and Irish marriages.
IRISH SCOUTS VISIT VIARMES Jan ‘98
Roger and Patricia McCarrick , Michael and Caitriona Coleman, Derek Sherlock and Pauline Morahan headed off to Viarmes in January 1998. We drove to Dublin and got a lunchtime plane to Beauvais. Followed Eilish Druet to Viarmes in a hired Peugeot 306 left hand drive. Had a meal in a local Golf club restaurant: guests of the Mayors office. Visiteds Paris the next day by train and Metro. Visited the Sacre Coeur and the girls saw a few shops while the lads sampled a couple of pints. That evening Dominique had us all to a meal in her house. We were then guests of honour at a concert in the local hall. In the chorus was Joseph and Jean Cawleys daughter Teresa living in Chaumontel nearby. Back to Dominiques house for a sing song. Sunday morning Mass followed by a tour of the town hall. Their mayor is more like our County Manager in Sligo. Then we had a tour of the sites in Viarmes: the sports ground, tennis club, local nursing home and schools etc. They have a beautiful new childrens creche. That night we had a Chinese meal in the local and at 12.00 someone suggested a tour of Paris by night and we all agreed etc
MAYOR DANIEL DESSE MEETS TAOISEACH
Friday 29th May ‘98 Mayor Monsieur Desse and his wife Chantel, Guy de Vadable and Dominique arrive in Tubbercurry at the same time as the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is in Killorans. The Mayor was impressed that we pulled out all the stops!!
Informal get-together in Nathys. Saturday morning: tour of NCF, in the afternoon:free time in Sligo Evening meal in the Yeats County. Sunday after mass, buffet in Maeve Walshes with Jackie Coogan on the Piano. Lough Gill trip in the afternoon. Patricia McCarrick cooked a meal for them that night. Grand tour of Tubbercurry with Derek on the bank holiday Monday morning. Father Pat Lynch brought them to the Passage caves in the afternoon. Traditional night in Gurteen that night . Visited the local National and Secondary Schools on Tues morning before their departure.
THE AIMS OF TWINNING
The aim is to develop a public bond of friendship and goodwill. It involves people of South Sligo getting to know the people of Viarmes and its environs, getting to know their way of life. It involves getting to know families and people that we would be happy to have our children spend time with as they absorb the culture of a different European country .
Unfortunately or otherwise, depending on your point of view, it is not about tourism or economic development. If they arrive as a result of twinning then well and good. If they don’t it is not a failure of twinning.
You are most welcome to get involved……..contact any of the committee below:
Derek Sherlock……..…9185257 Helen Brennan………...9185007
Maeve Walsh………….9185188 Teresa Krebs (Cawley)..9185025
Michael Coleman……..9185606
This small sum lets us know that you are genuinely enquiring and not a computer trying to send excess amounts of spam to our email account.