Ballina-Killaloe is in a twinning partnership with the town of Basse-Goulaine, a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France. On Thursday 13th July 2023 representatives from their twinning committee (le Comité de Jumelage de Basse-Goulaine) arrived in Ireland for their third visit to Ballina-Killaloe.
A Civic Welcome was accorded to the Committee by the Nenagh Municipal District of Tipperary County Council in the Civic Offices, Nenagh on Friday 14th July - Bastille Day. Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District, Cllr. John ‘Rocky’ McGrath, welcomed the Committee. Speaking of the friendships which are being forged and the relationships being developed, he said “There are many opportunities for cultural, educational and sporting exchanges”. He also referred to the unique position of the twin towns of Ballina and Killaloe and thanked Clare County Council for their support of the twinning partnership.
The process began back in 2015 when Nenagh Municipal District contacted ‘The Wheel’, which is the national contact point for twinning and for ‘Europe for Citizens’. A partner search request was completed and in 2016 this led to a direct contact with Tipperary County Council from Basse-Goulaine. They already had twinning arrangements with Spain and Germany and were seeking a friendly relationship with an English-speaking town to prompt cultural, sporting or artistic exchanges. The first visit of the Ballina-Killaloe Twinning Committee to Basse-Goulaine took place in December 2016 and since then each Committee has visited the other on three occasions.
Opportunities for exchanges continue to be explored. Some very successful projects have already been undertaken. Boys from the Lough Derg FC took part in the Europfoot International Soccer Competition for u-15s in Vertou in 2019 which gave them the opportunity of meeting boys of a similar age from different parts of Europe. A student from Basse-Goulaine attended St. Anne’s Killaloe Community College in 2018 and three students from Killaloe went to Basse-Goulaine in 2019. Also, in 2019, 55 students from Basse-Goulaine included a visit to Ballina/Killaloe in their school tour where they were warmly welcomed at St. Anne’s.
Following a break due to Covid, in 2022 Irish traditional musicians participated in a Music Festival in Basse-Goulaine and further links were forged. Progress has therefore been achieved in educational, sporting and cultural exchanges and further opportunities are being explored.
Following the Civic Welcome, the representatives of Basse-Goulaine were given a tour of Nenagh Tourist Office by Rosemary Joyce, District Administrator, Nenagh Municipal District. Later in the afternoon they had the opportunity of visiting John Hanly & Co in Ballyartella where they were wowed by the colours and beauty of the Irish designed woven scarves, throws and fabrics in wool, cashmere, lambswool, mohair and natural fibres.
On Saturday the group travelled to Limerick at the invitation of Loïc Guyon, Consul Honaire de France for the Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival. The visit also included a trip to the famous Milk Market, an expedition to the International Rugby Experience and a tour of the Hunt Museum. Sunday’s activities included a walk through the Polloughs Trail in Birdhill to view the wonderful display of art in a natural setting; a meeting with artists Kerry Acheson, Melissa Ryan and Lynn Kenny at The Bridge Creative Arts Centre and a music session in The Washerwoman in Ballina. While the weather was not at its best, the group thoroughly enjoyed their visit and look forward to future exchanges. They returned to France on Monday.
The Ballina-Killaloe Twinning Committee would love to encourage new members and representatives from clubs or organisations from the area to join the Committee and to bring forward ideas as to how the twinning partnership can be further developed for the benefit of both communities. Members of the Twinning Committee are Eddie Ryan, Patricia Anne Moore, Eddie Moxon-Browne, Joan Canty, Padraig Hyland, Fiona Farr, Catriona Shortt, Fíodhna Hyland, Marcus O’ Connor and Rosemary Joyce. Anyone interested can contact Chairperson Rosemary Joyce (rosemary.joyce@tipperarycoco.ie) or any committee member.
Representatives of the Twinning Committees of Basse-Goulaine and Ballina-Killaloe with Cllr. John 'Rocky' McGrath, Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District
