French delegation treated to the best that Castlecomer and Kilkenny has to offer

Five visitors - Pascal Mallo, Jean-Yves LeGland, Mano Igigabel, Yvon Lirzin and Laurent Daoudal - arrived in Castlecomer from Penvénan.

Pascal is the new chairman of Penvénan Twinning Committee, and this was his first visit to Castlecomer.

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The group, who were met by their host families in The Avalon Hotel, started their tour with a visit to Kilkenny Castle.

Afterwards there was a visit to Kilkenny Design Centre and Butler Gallery.

They spent the afternoon shopping and enjoying all the attractions Kilkenny has to offer.

That evening the group adjourned to the Corner House where, after a meal with the host families, Mark Rothwell had organised a music session. Our visitors participated.

Yvon sang the Fields of Athenry and a French sailor’s song Mon Petit Garcon.

Thanks to Mark Rothwell, Anthony, Dick and Martin Barrett, Dick Preston, Brendan Nolan, Jimmy and Eileen Byrne and Anne Rothwell for providing a great night’s entertainment.

A joint committee meeting was organised for Saturday morning in the local library. There they discussed future exchanges and spoke about plans for the 25th anniversary celebrations in Penvénan in 2025.

The group then headed to Castlecomer Discovery Park for a walk, where all enjoyed a picnic and enjoyed drinks and coffee from the Canopy Café.

After that the group were brought on a tour of Castlecomer for the benefit of Pascal, the new chairman.

The party visited Deen Celtic and the two factories, Modubuild and Asgard, before going to the site of the Deerpark mines, local schools and businesses.

Finally, the group went to Erin’s Own club to get an introduction to hurling.

On Sunday morning Jean-Yves, Laurent and Yvon went on a 25km cycle with members of Deenside Wheelers Alfie Stone, Tommy Hickson, Michael Holland and Pat Clarke.

They had coffees in the Jarrow Café to discuss a possible cycling trip to Penvénan in September.

The visitors were warmly welcomed to Castlecomer Golf Club where, after soup and sandwiches, they went on a tour of the golf course and played the par three 15th hole.

In the evening they returned to the host families to get ready for the farewell meal, which was hosted by Seán and Jo and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

The group met again at The Avalon Hotel on the Monday morning where they bade farewell and the end of another very successful weekend for the Castlecomer Twinning Committee. All look forward to the next visit to Penvénan.

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SHOWBAND NIGHT
The Castlecomer Penvénan Twinning are running a showband night with The Ritz Showband in The Avalon Hotel on Friday, May 5.

This is guaranteed to be a brilliant night of music and dancing.

Tickets are available locally from The Avalon Hotel, Holohan’s, O’Rourke’s and online from Eventbrite.