GREETINGS.....

Nollaig Shóna & Áth Bhlian faoi mhaise dhaoibh !

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !

ATHY AND IRELAND PROMOTION

As we've been asked to participate free to Aumale "World Mart", it was impossible to say no.
It is why we've promoted Ireland, Kildare county and more specially ATHY during 2 days. Around 100 people asked questions about the country, the county and our twin town.
2 winners of our quizz got 2 free tickets for Amiens feb.2014 "CELTIC IRSH" on tour, value each 50€.
With the help of our board members, many thanks to them !

2013 BBQ

Sunday 22d September 2013

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As every year, members are attending our BBQ.  This year, they were 56 for this special day. It is our biggest gathering except our AGM.. Good food, good wines, wonderful meteo, great craic...).

Waiting next year one, slainte, folks !

BATTLE OF SOMME 2013 COMMEMORATIONS

On 1st July, two lads of Aontas Ogra, a strong youth association in Athy, were attending to Battle of Somme 2013 commemorations. At 7.28 am, throwing poppys in Lochnagar Crater and later laying a wrath, on behalf of the towns of Athy and Grandvilliers, on the Thepval Memorial.

A REFLECTION ON THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME COMMEMORATION 2013 BY AN IRISH YOUTH:

Really, I find trying to condense my experience – or my thoughts about my experience – of the trip to Grandvilliers for the Battle of the Somme commemoration into a few lines to be somewhat of an injustice, but I shall try my best.

Arriving from my flight with Michael (though he is known to friends in Athy and beyond simply as ‘Kearney’) I truly did not know what to expect. I was both nervous and excited about the coming events, and also somewhat apprehensive about staying with my host family. (Such worries were soon wiped away, however, as my hostess and her son proved wonderful company and truly kind and pleasant people – even if they were apprehensive about their ability to speak English; I assured them it was nothing compared to my reservations about attempting to speak French – something I had never quite mastered.)

As for the official events, the ceremonies, I cannot possibly put into words how emotionally moved I was by them – and how horrified I was by the sheer number of casualties and fatalities of the Somme; something that I read into upon my return home. Truthfully, I think that this trip is extremely worthwhile for young people – and not just the young people of Athy; a town with whom, of course, Grandvilliers has a special relationship. In school, you see, Irish youth are not really exposed as much to the first world war as they are to the second; indeed the first remains as a mysterious prologue to its more (dare I say) “popular” sequel. They hear nothing of the losses of the some, or the countless brave young boys (on all sides) whose lives were quenched like candles in the wind on the first day alone. The trip, therefore, is important – if not for the educational purposes, then certainly for the fact that such a horrible conflict should never be allowed happen again; and it is only the young that can prevent such an atrocity being repeated in the future.

Thank you all for this matchless opportunity. I will remember it forever.

(Joseph O’ Hara)

JUNE 2013 VISIT

From 14th to 17th past June , 25 visitors from Grandvilliers went to Athy. Among them, Mayor Jacques Larcher, chairpersons of sportsand culture clubs.
They all had a wonderful week-end in Grandvilliers twin town.
Saturday morning conference, Saturday evening diner, Sunday afternoon at the County Show....everything was well done.
Thanks to our Athy's hosts.
Many common projects will be set up for next year visit.

TRADATHY EVENTS

ALL FREE EVENTS

SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

All members of Grandvilliers-aThy twinning committee wish to everyone in Athy a happy Saint Patrick'day. 

Have a great craic !

SLAINTE !

NORTH AND PICARDY MFR AWARD

Our committee had received the North of France and Picardy MFR award for its commiment in Leonardo projects since 5 years.  Thanks for our Athy's friends for their help !

THE GATHERING

Athy's programme of festivals and events for the 

Gathering 2013 was officially launched on Feb 28th.

The programme was launched by local ambassadors Anna May McHugh and Frank O'Brien on Thursday last in the Athy Heritage Centre Museum. Over the coming months, the South Kildare town will welcome thousands of national and international visitors as it hosts an array of events - including the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, Waterways Festival, Tri Athy Triathlon, Bluegrass Festival, Kildare County Show and Shackleton Autumn School.

In addition, a selection of the newer events continue to be developed by local organisers and will include the Trad Athy Music Festival, Dragon Boat Regatta, Stone Mad Ultra (Multi Stage Marathon) and Christmas Streets & Treats Festival in December. Events and listings are updated on the town's new portal website http://www.athy.ie/

As part of the launch, the Athy Town Promoters Group has developed an attractive series of 4 postcards. Each postcard depicts photographs from recent festivals in Athy and are available free from the following locations: Athy Heritage Centre Museum, Emily Square; Athy Library, Emily Square; and Athy Town Council, Rathstewart, Athy. The group is asking everyone with a local connection to share the 'Celebrate Athy' theme to friends and families at home and abroad.

The postcards were sponsored by Athy Town Council and printed locally by DataPrint.ie The Town Promoters Group wish to acknowledge the following for kind permission to use photos and imagery: Gordon Thomson, Robert Redmond, Colm Walsh, Athy Photographic Society, the Kildare Nationalist, Kildare County Show, the Leinster Leader, AthyPhotos.com, Shay Curran and DataPrint.ie

2013 ST PATRICK EVENING

Unfortunately, we had to postpon our yearly St Patrick' evening which will take place on Sat. 23d March.
This year, diner and dances with :
CLONAKILTY

UN PEU FRAIS POUR LA SESSION (U.P.F)

AND

THE MARIE FARRELL CAFFREY SCHOOL OF ATHY DANCERS

GREAT CRAIC FOR ALL THOSE COMING ALONG.!

INFORMATIONS ON http://labaladirlandaise.blog4ever.com (french)

2012 A.G.M

Huge attendance at our AGM past Friday !
Everything is ok about  past year.
2013 projects has been agreed.