Visitors to Longford keep up the French connection in Ballinamuck

Last week saw another French Invasion in Ballinamuck. However, this was not like the bloody affair that culminated in the Battle of Ballinamuck but another link in the twinning chain that started in 1997 to commemorate the bi centenary of the famous battle.

Eleven young people and their leaders from Essert in France arrived in Ballinamuck to stay with local host families who had children of a similar age.
They spent the week together participating in activities organised by the local enterprise group.

The activities included art, games, music, dancing, cooking, visits to local attractions like Derrycasson Woods and Knights and Conquests as well as a tour of the battle sites and a treasure hunt and of course Johnny’s Cottage where Marion cooked soda bread in the traditional manner over an open fire.
The Art Project was supported by Longford County Council and the children worked under the guidance of artist Kevin Flood.

They discussed themes around the subject 1798 and put ideas in the form of drawings on paper. These ideas will guide the artist in designing a mosaic piece which will be worked on over the next few years using materials from both France and Ireland.
The week culminated in a concert where the young people demonstrated the skills they had learned during the week.

It was also “bring a bowl” night where the audience enjoyed a variety of home cooked dishes while watching the concert.
The Ballinamuck Enterprise group would like to thank the twinning sub group for the time they spent in planning and organising the activities, the host families for making the young people so welcome in their homes for a week, the Irish group leaders who voluntarily took holidays to ensure the group was properly supervised.

Next year it will be the turn of the Irish young people to visit Essert and participate in further building of relationships in a friendship that goes back 225 years.
Why not come to Ballinamuck from September 7 - 10 and participate in some of the activities organised to commemorate the Year of the French, including the unveiling of a plaque to General Humbert to acknowledge the support from France in 1798.

There will also be a reenactment of the Battle of Ballinamuck with professional Irish and French reenactors. Also see page 2 for more.
The Ballinamuck Community Enterprise Group wishes to thank Longford County Council for its support for the twinning since 1997.

It is also important to state that the support of the local people for our Lotto makes a huge contribution to the twinning, the battle field signposting and information panels, walks upkeep and walks information boards. Well done Ballinamuck.