It has been a pleasure to work on the Roscommon Twinning Committee as PRO and link with Roscommon County Council to access funding etc. as we prepared over the last 9 months for this special event with our Chairperson Eamonn Gleeson, Marie Mitchell Secretary, Patricia Morris, Bill Cunningham and all host families who actively participated in preparations and in making this a memorable long weekend for our visitors.
The families visited Leinster House on Wednesday with Senator Terry Leyden. They greatly enjoyed Roscommon Town and environs during the Roscommon Lamb Festival. A new street sign Allée De Chartrettes was unveiled by French Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Stephane Crouzat. I proposed the naming of this street at Roscommon Municipal District meeting months ago to mark our two town’s friendship. In Chartrettes there is an Avenue Roscommon. There was a welcome event in Aras an Chontae, Roscommon with traditional music organised by Bill Cunningham and a wonderful Lord of the Dance spectacle by Mary Dolan’s Roscommon Academy of Dance. This was followed by formal speeches (live streamed on Roscommon County Council website https://roscommon.public-i.tv/core/portal/home) and delicious food from Gleesons Restaurant & Rooms and excellent Roscommon beer from Black Donkey Brewing Ltd.
We want to especially thank the principals, teachers & children of St Comans Wood School & Gaeil Scoil De hIde schools for the wonderful music & dancing performances they put on yesterday for our visitors...and Gerry Shannon for the Town Walk and Roscommon Castle.
We want to sincerely thank Council Chief Executive, Eugene Cummins, Elected members of the council & the council staff for funding and support to make this event possible especially Christina Fannon, Corporate services whom we liaised with closely. We also want to thank the sponsorship we received from the Roscommon Town Team, Roscommon Chamber of Commerce, Roscommon Lions club, AIB, BOI, PTSB, Roscommon Credit Union, and The Big Hello Fund
After 21 years, we are really one big family forged by shared memories of good times in previous visits & forging stronger ties with families & business for the future of both our nations. So many young people and adults have benefitted through language and cultural exchanges.Mary and Maurice Buckley started the twinning idea 21 years ago and the late Tom Foxe was Mayor when it commenced.
To all the people that have played a role in forging and continuing the Roscommon Chartrettes Twinning over the years Merci xx