French park named in honour of Athlone twinning arrangement
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Na Badoiri band members Liam Winnett and Rory O’Connor are pictured with singer Ciara Lawless and town twinning committee member Leah Maloney.Image 2 of 2
Irish dancers who were part of the travelling delegation l-r, Blaithin Behan, Rebecca Coffey, Alannagh Duane and Roisin PowerA 27-strong delegation recently visited Chateaubriant to mark the 30th anniversary of Athlone's twinning with the French town.
Relationships were renewed and new friendships forged during the four-day celebration, the highlight of which was the naming of a park - 'Parc d'Athlone' - in honour of the twinning arrangement.
The delegation representing Athlone featured twinning committee members, Westmeath County Council representatives, and the musicians of Na Badóirí, Irish dancers and singers, who performed on numerous occasions during the trip.
Official recognition of the twinning arrangement took place after the park unveiling on Sunday.
'Parc d'Athlone' was officially unveiled by Chateaubriant Deputy Mayor Catherine Citron and Cllr Liam McDaniel of the Athlone Moate Municipal District.
Cllr McDaniel spoke of his "honour" at being present "on behalf of the people of Athlone" to "mark two occasions of significant importance, the inauguration of Parc d'Athlone and the celebration of 30 years of friendship between our towns."
The Fianna Fáil representative from Kilbeggan praised the hospitality shown to the delegation during their four-day stay, saying it "reflects the strong bonds that have grown between our communities over the past 30 years".
"We are profoundly moved that the town of Chateaubriant has chosen to name a beautiful space 'Parc d'Athlone', a symbol of our lasting bond and a testament to the enduring spirit of town twinning," he said.
Cllr McDaniel also paid tribute to the "dedication and hard work" of the twinning committee, in particular, chairperson and secretary, Niamh Dalby and Nancy Murray, whose "efforts have been instrumental in sustaining and enriching the relationship between our towns".
"Let us reflect on what has been achieved over the past 30 years and look ahead to a future of continued collaboration between both towns," Cllr McDaniel concluded.
During the visit, the local delegation stayed with host families in Chateabriant and built upon the relationships forged since the twinning was formalised in 1995.
There was also an air of poignancy as representatives from both towns remembered the late John Daly, who died in March of this year.
Mr Daly, a former Marist College teacher, had been an integral part of the Athlone-Chateaubriant committee.