On Sunday, October 25th 2009, a group of eighteen 15-16-year-old players from our Twin Town Soccer Club DC de Carhaix (DC = dernières cartouches which means last cartridges) arrived in Carrickmacross. The young footballers were accompanied by DC de Carhaix Club President Marc André, Manager Georges Ravalec and his wife Noëlle, football coaches Joël Jegou and Eric Perrot and eight parents. Marie Louise Huiban, President of Carhaix-Carrickmacross Town Twinning Association as well as twinning committee members JeanYves le Saux and his wife Marie Claire and Pierre Guillerm and his wife Marie Aline also travelled with the group.
They were welcomed to Carrickmacross by Mayor Mary Kerr-Conlon and treated to a veritable feast of finger food, apple tarts and pastries organised and prepared by Mary and Town Clerk Frances Matthews. While the parents stayed in B&B accommodation locally all the others were lodged with families associated with Carrick Rovers Football Club or the Carrickmacross Town Twinning Association.
The highlight of the visit was the big match for the Twinning Cup (La Coupe de Jumelage) played at noon in Birdy Development Park on Monday. Carrick Rovers reversed the 3-1 defeat in Carhaix last year by winning 4 goals to 2 in a cracking game and so the Cup will spend the year in Carrickmacross. A second highlight took place on Tuesday morning when FAI under 19 National Manager Sean Mc Caffery and FAI Regional Development Officer and under17 Irish National Coach Tom Mohan held a two hour coaching session with the two teams. The DC de Carhaix players and mentors were absolutely thrilled with it and were particularly appreciative of some new techniques they learned from Tom Mohan.
As well as the two highlights a series of mini tournaments were organised in Inver College football pitch for the two teams as well as a trip to bowling in Castleblayney. The programme of activities concluded with a meal hosted by Carrickmacross Town Twinning Association for the players and officials from the two towns. Parents and families who accommodated the visitors were also present.
Carrickmacross and Carhaix Town Twinning Associations are delighted with the success of the event. Expressions of gratitude were paid to Art Agnew, Kieran Mc Mahon, Oliver Martin and especially Kieran Donnelly of Carrick Rovers Football Club for all their work leading up to and during the days that the DC de Carhaix soccer group were in Carrickmacross. Appreciation is also due to referees, officials, other club members and all the host families.
