A busy day for our French visitors
Music in schools, cakes in Armelle’s, a look at Nolan’s array of awards — many from France — and meeting a New York Times best-selling author, all were just some in a buzz of activities for the 13 visitors from France to Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne. And that was only this morning.
The Saint-Contest group kicked off with a visit to CPC, which has already had contacts with a Normandy equivalent since the twinning was inaugurated in 2019. An informal gathering in the school’s Sacred Space area included coffee and cake, conversation with students eager to practice their French, and Irish fiddle music played by Mikey Arthur. Among his contributions were a haunting Town I Loved So Well, She Moved Through the Fair, Mise Éire, and Fáinne Gael An Lae. Marybeth Delaney performed an Irish reel.
Mary Quinto served dual duty as the CPC Erasmus+ coordinator and Twinning Group representative. Principal Joe Leonard also came along to meet the visitors.
After that it was off to Scoil Bhride where a full entertainment had been laid on by pupils from Junior Infants and 6th Classes with the school choir in excellent harmony and performing songs in three languages.
There were also short demonstrations of hurling and football skills, and some very elegant Irish dancing. The event finishing up in proper Irish style with tea and scones.
After that the group began their visits to local shops by meeting Kilcullen’s own French transplant in her very popular Armelle’s Kitchen patisserie.
Sweet addictions satisfied, it was on to Nolan’s Butchers with a welcome sign in French and a chat with James, who was happy to show the various continental cups on the shop’s overloaded awards shelves.
Berney Bros Saddlery was next, and a chance to hear about the 145 years old history of one of the few remaining family owned equine tack specialists in the country. And perhaps try out a couple of suitable rainproof hats for the day that was in it.
From there it was a short step back down to Woodbine Books, where proprietor Dawn Behan introduced them to Hazel Gaynor, who was able to show them some of her best-selling titles in both English and French versions.
An extended lunch break in the River Cafe allowed the visitors to rest and fuel up for the afternoon excursion to Old Kilcullen.
Earlier rain had stopped, but a particularly bitter wind was blowing and after a quick walk around to see the views, everyone huddled in the lee of the tower to hear Noel Clare tell how the site became the original monastic settlement of Kilcullen. Later to be replaced by the antecedents of our modern town following the construction of a bridge across the Liffey.
Tonight, after what will probably be a very welcome repast in Bardons, the group are being brought by their Kilcullen hosts to a music session in Ballymore.
And they still have three days to deal with ...
(Photos by Brian Byrne, Noel Clare and Tanya Flanagan. All the visit photos can be seen here.)
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