The Oranmore Twinning Association is currently making final preparations for a very special upcoming event in which the village will be officially twinned with Clohars-Fouesnant in France.
The charter twinning ceremony is set to take place next Wednesday, April 11, at the Oranmore Lodge Hotel at 6.30pm and will be attended by many honoured guests including Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton, County Galway Mayor Michael Maher, Galway City Mayor Hildegarde Naughton, Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, and various local and national politicians.
Commenting on the programme of events planned around this momentous occasion, Geralding Costello of the Oranmore Twinning Association explained that some 26 French guests will be arriving into Oranmore on Monday, April 9, and will visit the village, Galway city and its environs during a six day stay, returning to France on Sunday, April 14. During their stay the guests will be entertained by their Irish host families, with scheduled trips to see the highlights of Galway including Salthill, Spiddal, Renville Sailing Club, Galway Cathedral, the Spanish Arch, Oranmore Castle, Galway Bay Golf Resort, sailing, as well as a trip to the famous Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in Clare. Ms Costello further explained that, as this year is the ‘Year of Active Ageing’ the theme will be incorporated into the programme of events which includes a visit to the Department of Gerontology at NUIG where Professor O’Shea will deliver his lecture on ‘Creativity and Ageing’. The guests will also meet with the Oranmore Senior Citizens Group so that views can be exchanged in relation to the topic of active ageing.
The charter will be signed at Oranmore Lodge next Wednesday by the chairman of the Oranmore Community Development Association, Tom Broderick, and the Mayor of Clohars-Fouesnant, Michel Lahuec. The event will also include various guest speakers including an address by Minister Creighton, followed by a choir performance.
