The Carrickmacross-Carhaix Twinning Association played host to a group of fifty-two students from College St. Trémeur in Carhaix along with their teachers on Thursday, March 22nd. The students are studying English and History with a particular emphasis on the Famine in Ireland.
The first stop on Thursday was the Old Workhouse where they were welcomed by Eugene O ‘Gorman and Sean Egan from the local Twinning Association. The students and their teachers, Michel, Virginie and Yves were treated to light refreshments by the management of the Workhouse before the presentation on the history of the Famine in the Carrickmacross area from Yvonne Marron. The group were then brought on a tour of the building by Kevin Gartlan which included a visit to a recently restored dormitory.
After lunch in the Shirley Arms Hotel where Michael and Claire McMahon met Michel, who has been a regular guest in Carrickmacross, the visitors went on a walking tour of the town in glorious sunshine. They visited the Bully’s Acre on the Donaghmoyne Road and St. Joseph’s Church where they admired the Harry Clarke windows and the Richard King designed Stations of the Cross.
The group headed back towards the Main Street where they heard a short account of the history of the town since the 1600’s. The visit ended with a little time for shopping and the market stalls and local shops saw a sudden increase in business as the young people headed off in search of a bargain. As the group members boarded the bus before leaving it seemed that the Irish Easter Eggs proved to be a popular purchase.
After thanking the local Association for the warm welcome, Michel brought his pupils back to Dublin to continue their Irish visit.
The Twinning Association in Carrickmacross is hoping to host more visitors from their twin town during 2012. A group of cyclists from Carhaix may visit the town during National Bike Week in June while Carrick Rovers soccer club will face F C Carhaix in their annual tournament in Carrickmacross at Halloween.
