Longford Community group on week-long exchange

The Ballymahon Twinning Group recently concluded a highly successful visit to Landevant, their twinned town in Northwest France.

The week-long exchange, which took place last week, focused on exploring new tourist related projects with a particular emphasis on water-based tourism as well as high-end textile projects and enterprises within the Brittany region.
The delegation of 19 representatives from Ballymahon included two officials from Longford County Council.

To fully immerse themselves in the experience, the group opted to travel by sea, journeying from Cork to Roscoff aboard Brittany Ferries.
This mode of travel allowed the delegates to gain a first-hand understanding of the logistics of travelling to Ireland by car or camper van—a popular choice for many tourists visiting the region.

Upon arrival, the Landevant Twinning Group had organised an exciting boat fishing expedition on the picturesque River Blavet, a river similar to the River Inny in Ballymahon.

Known for its abundant pike and perch, as well as migratory fish like salmon and large shad, The River Blavet may not have the same quality of fish stocks as The Inny catchment but it offers a well-organised and enjoyable tourist experience, for example the Ballymahon visitors were treated to a day of fishing complete with coffee breaks and refreshments, culminating in a delightful evening dinner at the Quai Tabarly angling centre where like most french cuisine, the meal extended late into the night.

Throughout the week, the group also visited Quimper, the capital of Finistère in western Brittany.
The delegates toured several key tourist attractions, including the 13th-century Cathedral of Saint Corentin. Noteworthy for its unique design that curves slightly in the middle to accommodate the swampy terrain during its construction, the cathedral left a lasting impression on the visitors.

A visit to the town of Guidel, similar in size to Longford town, offered insight into local industry and tourism.
The group toured "Le Minor," a high-end textile factory that doubles as a tourist attraction, providing guided tours daily. This visit highlighted the potential for similar initiatives in Ballymahon and Longford, where industry and tourism can coexist and flourish.

The visit was crowned by a civic reception hosted at the Mairie of Landevant by Mayor Pascal Le Calvé and his elected team.
The Ballymahon group was warmly welcomed with a food and wine reception, followed by a formal civic event attended by representatives from Longford County Council and the Ballymahon Twinning Group.

During the reception, Mayor Le Calvé emphasised the benefits of twinning, particularly in fostering new enterprises and learning experiences within the region. He also underscored the importance of expanding and developing new EU-level programs to support twinning initiatives.

Responding on behalf of the Longford delegation, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Mark Casey, expressed his gratitude for the warm reception. “Mr. Le Calvé, we are deeply honoured by your hospitality and the continued commitment of Landevant to this twinning relationship.
You have shown us true friendship, the kind that endures through time and distance. Let us look to the future, to extend and enhance our exchange, and to strengthen the ties that bind our communities.”

Breege Murray, President of Ballymahon Town Twinning, reflected on the long-standing relationship between the two towns. “When this twinning relationship was first established over two decades ago, our founders could only hope for the deep and enduring connections that would develop. Over the past 23 years, we have built a living bond, strengthened by countless shared experiences. Our twinning is not just a formal arrangement; it is a testament to the enduring friendship between our communities.”

The visit to Brittany by Ballymahon Twinning Group was undertaken with gusto and throughout the week everyone was using their ‘bonjour’ and bonne journée not to mention ‘où est le pub?’

The trip ended on a high note, with a commitment from the Landevant Twinning Group to continue supporting Ballymahon in learning French and furthering cultural exchanges. The future promises even more collaborative efforts between these two vibrant communities.