They came, they saw, they knitted, Landevant welcomed to Longford

They came, they saw, they bravely tried the colcannon - and now they’re gone. Our dear friends from Landevant in Brittany have returned to France, perhaps slightly sunburned, thoroughly overfed, and still puzzling over the finer points of turf-cutting and sean-nós dancing.

Ballymahon was a riot of colour for the event, with flags and bunting fluttering from every pole, post, and porch in honour of our visitors from Landevant and beyond. The town rolled out the tricolour carpet, thanks to the heroic handiwork of Aiden Lovell and Liam Natton

Now after a blissfully crazy few days in Ballymahon, we can officially declare: the Ballymahon-Landevant twinning visit was a resounding success.

It had been over two years since the last Breton boots touched Ballymahon soil, and this year’s return was greeted with all the warmth of a turf fire and the precision of a colour-coded Excel sheet. No Cliffs of Moher, no Guinness Storehouse queues - just a full-immersion experience of the town in all its glorious, water-scented authenticity.

No sooner had the French delegation unzipped their luggage than they were swept into Skelly’s for a welcome reception and art exhibition hosted by the Ballymahon Art Club. Twinning Group President Breege Murray delivered a multilingual speech so charming it nearly outshone the paintings - and certainly confused Google Translate.

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The buffet featured a masterclass in Irish hospitality (and potato versatility), which even the most "Chef gastronome" among our French guests had to admit was formidable. Rumours of second helpings of smoked salmon and French cheeses were neither confirmed nor denied.

On Saturday, the entire entourage packed up and headed west to Galway, joining in the lively celebrations marking 50 years of friendship between Lorient and the City of the Tribes. There was music, laughter, and more than a few attempts to explain the difference between a “craic” and a “crêpe” - all in the spirit of international diplomacy, of course.

Sunday morning saw our Breton visitors file into the 11.30am Mass with the reverence of pilgrims and the punctuality of Parisians. Presiding over a packed church was Ballymahon’s own Parish Priest, Fr. Liam Murray, delivering his signature blend of Scripture and straight-talking wisdom - the kind that makes you laugh, think, and check your conscience all in one go.

After Mass, the French mingled outside with the locals, basking in the post-liturgy sunshine and catching up with twinning royalty like Jimmy Lennon - a man said to possess more knowledge of Ballymahon-Landevant diplomacy than the entire European Commission. (His secret? A well-thumbed stack of Longford Leader press releases and an excellent memory for who hosted who in 2004.)

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The cultural baton then passed to the Bog Lane Theatre, where local historian and raconteur Paddy Egan took the stage to deliver a talk brimming with South Longford lore. The highlight? An eel export empire you’ve never heard of - hundreds of tons of live eels sent annually to Paris and London in the late 1800s. Who knew Longford eels had passports? Paddy had the invoices to prove it.

Then it was off to the outdoor auditorium behind Skelly’s on Main Street, where the festivities continued with an open-air céilí led by the lively Glenside Céilí Band. The evening featured spontaneous set dancing, bursts of Breton singing, and the liberal pouring of wine that was either suspiciously French or just very well-travelled. As for the weather - it was suspiciously Irish in the best possible sense: glorious sunshine. Local dance maestro Seán Duggan made several impromptu appearances (or perhaps he never left), treating the French guests to a taste of sean-nós dancing and proving, once again, that rhythm is a local export too.

Monday brought a tour of Bridgeways Family Resource Centre - a shining example of South Longford’s social soul. Manager Breege Campbell left such an impression that the French are reportedly forming their own version called Pontchemin. Naturally, this was followed by a lunch-and-singalong at the Convent Day Care Centre, where Manager Teresa Donlon managed to unite both nations with harmonies, hospitality, and what may go down as the first Franco-Irish rendition of Trasna na dTonnta.

The formal reception on Monday evening may have carried the title, but in spirit it was a celebration infused with warmth, wit, and community. Twinning dynamo Michelle Fleming presided as MC with effortless charm, steering the evening with a blend of humour and grace. Cathaoirleach Pat O’Toole delivered a heartfelt welcome in Irish - that made the twinners wish they’d paid more attention in Leaving Cert Irish language classes.

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Behind the seamless orchestration stood council stalwarts Breege Cronin and Genevieve Montgomery, whose quiet dedication and tireless coordination gave the evening its richness and depth. The cultural programme that followed was a triumph: the Innyside Singers lifted the room with harmony, the Comhaltas musicians infused it with traditional fire, and the incomparable Emer McGowan captivated all with a performance that didn’t just entertain—it moved. Whether it brought the house down or set it swaying in time, the effect was unmistakable: this was an evening to remember.

Tuesday morning saw the Ballymahon library transformed into what can only be described as a high-stakes diplomatic knitting summit, where local knitting and crochet connoisseurs welcomed our French visitors with needles in hand, balls of yarn at the ready, and a level of enthusiasm that would terrify lesser textile circles.

Our guests from Landevant were gently - though persistently - encouraged to take up the crochet hook and “have a lash,” as we say. Some were naturals; others produced curious knots that may or may not qualify as modernist art. Still, all were applauded generously, especially by those who weren’t entirely sure what they themselves were making either.

And for the visitors, it was a heartwarming glimpse into a quieter, craftier corner of Irish life - where fashion comes not from Milan or Paris, but from a basket under the stairs and a lifetime of knowing how to make something beautiful from nothing more than a ball of yarn and a bit of patience.

Tuesday also included a visit to Ballymahon Vocational School, where the seeds of future educational exchanges were planted over cups of tea and enthusiastic cries of très bon.

But the undisputed highlight of the day - and perhaps the entire week - was the soirée at Castlecor House. There, local Longford fare was elegantly presented by the evening’s gracious host, Loreto Grogan, in an octagonal room that the French found delightfully peculiar. As twilight settled, the remarkable Katie Jackson sang beneath the summer sky, as though she had been born to serenade diplomats.

And lest anyone forget, Ballymahon also served up a reminder that some of Ireland’s finest food and drink producers call this corner of Longford home. On proud display were local producers such as Carla Coulihan of Wide Street Brewery (crafting beer with serious personality), Martina Byrne’s refreshing Richmond Cordials, and the ever-reliable Stewarts Family Farm in Killashee. Sweetness came courtesy of Abbeyshrule honey and McCormack’s juicy Colehill strawberries - tasting like summer itself - while Ballymahon’s own Kepak beef made sure no one went hungry, or doubted Longford’s culinary credentials.

And then, just like that, it was Wednesday morning. The French boarded their bus, waving, hugging, and still giggling over someone’s attempt to explain the word “boreen.”

We didn’t just twin towns - we twinned hearts. We laughed, danced, broke bread, and discovered a shared passion for wool crafts and questionable jokes. And as our friends from Landevant disappeared down the N55, one truth was clear: twinning isn’t about flags and formality - it’s about friendship, fierce local pride, and a great big pot of stew.

So until next time, dear Bretons: slán go fóill, bring your wellies, and maybe a few extra suitcases - you’ll need them for the Corlea bog and the Ballymahon memories.