%202025.png)
The Thirtieth Anniversary Celebrations in Vilaine
Vive Skerries!
Vive Guichen!
Vive Villafranca!
29 people from Skerries visited the Canton of Guichen (Brittany) from 3rd to 7th July to mark the 30 th anniversary of our French twinning. 12 representatives from Villafranca de los Barros (Spain) also attended.
​
The Skerries crest stands proudly on the signpost in Baulon (Canton of Guichen) alongside those of the other three towns with which Guichen is twinned. We are the closest - Skerries 688 km, Villafranca de los Barros 1107 km (Spain) Milevsko 1204 km (Czech Rep) and Srem 1424 km (Poland).
Town Twinning aims to foster friendship between people through cultural, sporting and interest-centred exchanges. At its core is mutual hospitality, opening homes to each other and extending the hand of friendship.
We learn about other people. We share our experiences of daily life, its challenges and how we cope.
​
We were in Guichen to celebrate our 30 th anniversary. Some of us were there for the first time while others were renewing old friendships. We visited local enterprises (Choque Microbrewery and Bertons which promotes Gallo, the language and culture of eastern Brittany). We were welcomed to the Departmental Council in Rennes where we had a presentation on local government.
​
We visited the historic National Fort of St Malo as well as the largest SNSM lifeboat station in Brittany (equivalent of the RNLI). Maire Jones and Marie McDonald sang Ag Críost an Síol in a recently restored 15 th century chapel. We were hosted by local families and entertained by traditional Breton musicians, singers and dancers interspersed with Spanish flamenco and Irish ballads.
Brendan Friel (Chair of Skerries Town Twinning) presented his counterpart, Michèle Motel, with a commemorative plaque made by Skerries Men’s Shed. A 30 th Anniversary Twinning Charter was signed by Brendan and Michèle as well as the local mayors. The charter reaffirmed our commitment to keep our friendship alive for future generations and to build together a future based on peace, fraternity and openness to the world. We were delighted to meet 12 representatives from Villafranca de los Barros (Spain) who travelled to Guichen specially for the occasion. We agreed to explore future possible links with Villafranca particularly in the areas of music and student exchanges.
Our group included local TD Robert O’Donoghue and Councillor Brendan Ryan. Skerries Community Association was represented by Chair Jane Landy, Deputy Chair Breda Shankey and Directors John Coleman and Brendan Friel.
Each and every one who travelled from Skerries thoroughly enjoyed their experience. Jane Landy and Maire Jones said it was such a privilege to be there. Angela Murray said that she thoroughly enjoyed the visit and was delighted to meet so many lovely people from Skerries as well. Marie Stafford spoke of the amazing few days in the best of company. Paul and Ann Mulligan also thoroughly enjoyed it all. Geraldine and Paul Sexton said it was a fantastic weekend and that the host families were incredible. Anjana Aggarwal said it was a great learning experience and appreciated getting to know more people from Skerries as well. Margaret Dent also said it was lovely getting to know Skerries neighbours while in France. Maire Moloney was so glad she went – such a wonderful visit to Guichen.
Skerries Town Twinning would like to thank all those who took part in the visit and in particular our counterparts in Guichen who gave us the “red carpet” treatment for the occasion. Vive le jumelage!
If you would like more information about Skerries Town Twinning please visit www.skerriestwinning.ie or email skerriestwinning@gmail.com
​​​​​We are also on Facebook.
