NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIP IRELAND

COME ON to celebrate the 80th  ! next 20/21/22 september ...

Informations  : 

National Ploughing Association, Fallaghmore,
Athy, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Phone 059-8625125  Fax 059-8625172

GREAT CRAIC LAST WEEK-END !!

From past Friday to Manday, we had a terrific week-end. Athy twinning committee chairman, Cllr Thomas Redmond, and his group involving a lot of new families (among them some french living in Athy) had worked hard for us.
No rest for us during that week-end !
Oise Tourism  County Show draw winner is Mrs our Miss Bernadette FLANAGAN from CARLOW.
There was some French flavour too with the Athy-Granvillers Twinning Committee, the Picardy Tourism Office and the MFR Agriculture College trade stand. French teacher Soffia Lambert was impressed. "We have been so warmly welcomed it is just brilliant. People are so nice, so cheerful, so friendly and chatting. We bought some local cheese and jam from France and we are giving out samples. It is all really nice."

More news later, and waiting them if you wish to enlist the group, ring 059 8631444 and ask your questions !

ATHY TWINNING COMMITEE CONFERENCE

Twin Towns Athy & Grandvilliers Celebrate Volunteering

Saturday 18th June, 2011

On Saturday June 18th, Athy and Grandvilliers Twinning Committees will host a one day conference to celebrate the European Year of Volunteering. 30 Grandvilliers representatives will be visiting to attend the conference and take part in special events in the town.
The conference will be held in Athy Community College, starting at 9.00am with registration and concluding in the early afternoon.
The conference will focus on voluntering in the community, on the many aspects of volunteering and how it can help to create a greater bond in the community.
Among the speakers on the day will be Sr Consilio of Cuan Mhuire,   Cuan Mhuire is Ireland’s largest voluntary provider of Rehabilitation Treatment for individuals suffering from addiction and other related issues.  Since its formation in 1966 by Sr. Consilio, Cuan Mhuire has treated over 75,000 people.  Its main objective is the rehabilitation of persons suffering from alcohol, drug and gambling addictions.
Also speaking on the day will be Anne Byrne, Anne has worked for KARE for over twenty years and was instrumental in the introduction of the Best Buddies programme to KARE.
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Finally on the day, Mick Power of the Kildare Volunteer Centre will present on volunteering and volunteerism, having established the Volunteer Centre in County Kildare, The Kildare Volunteer Centre is the organisation tasked with the development of all aspects of Volunteering in County Kildare, Mick is well qualified to give detailed insights into all areas of volunteerism.
If you or someone from your organisation would like to attend please contact conference organiser David Walsh on 086 8280878 to reserve a place. There are still a limited number of places available for the conference on a first come first served basis.

THE NAKED MAN ADVENTURER

One young man from Athy, Mr Keith Whelan, is rowing solo from South-Est Africa (Mauritius Island)  to Australia to get funds for kids, not any kids but those unfortunaly hit by HIV.

 Waiting you'll give a donation to :

He rows, rows and rows......during 110 days.

Bravo to Keith Whelan !

http://thenakedadventurer.com

IMPROVING FRENCH

Next week, one young from Athy will arrive there for 6 weeks : 4 in a french family and 2 attending European Summer University. French family parents are working in the Community College.
In 2 weeks another guy from Ballymore Eustace will be there also for the same time and will be hosted by a french family. The man is working for reseach in a worldwide company and the woman is hairdresser (Oxygene is the name of her shop) in Grandvilliers. He'll also attend European Summer University.

Welcome to you, lads !

SHORT TRIP TO ATHY

Our chairman travelled one day to Athy to give informations to members of the Athy Twinning Committee about next visit to our twin town. During the Kildare County Show, we'll have an indoor stallin common with MFR school and our district tourism office.
They altogether spoke about timetable of the 17/20th June week-end. They also met Mr David Walsh who will travel to France in July for Battle of the Somme commemorations, with Cllr James Mahon.
Thanks to Cllr Thomas Redmond, Tom Kelly, Michael O'Brien (famous collector of David Brown tractors), Tina....and others for their help. They after all meet in Clancy's for a pint.

Chairman Jean-Pierre Vasseur also met Mr and Mrs Curran as their son, Cianan, who will stay in Grandvilliers for one and half month to improve his french and Mr Brian O'Gorman, Town Clerk, about arrangements which could be taken to present our town present to Athy.

He also  paid a visit to Mr Frank O'Brien to speak about Athy Town history and local characters.                         

On Emily Square is now the 1798 remembering monument (photo)

News from our twin town : Athy Arts Center is now in its second year of opening with great success (concerts, exhibitions...). It is located in the Methodist Church in Offaly Street.
Another young, Mr Edward Davis, will stay at the same time as Cianan with another french family in Grandvilliers. Himself and Cianan could attend European Summer University in July.
Great thanks to Mr Joe Boland (Kildare County).

ST PATRICK EVENING

As each year, we have a special evening which is not really on S Pat's Day, due to bookings of the Community Hall. This year, it was on 12th March.
Good Food by chief Frederic, Good music by "Lough'ed" coming straight from Enniskillen and Sligo, good dancers of Sarah Clarke Academy and good DJ, Jeremy, at the end.
Each one have appreciated this very friendly evening. Next year on 17th March...

                                                             Our Official photograph, Joel