Twinning group visits French host town

Twinning group visits French host town

16 October 2019

NINE members from the Rowallane and Slieve Croob Community Twinning Group recently visited their host town of Lamorlaye in France to mark the 21st anniversary of the successful partnership.

Lamorlaye mayor, Nicholas Moula and his deputy, Yasmine Chani, welcomed Newry Mourne and Down Council vice-chairman Terry Andrews and the visitors from Ballynahinch.

A busy programme was organised by the French hosts over the weekend, which was centred around the annual “Fete Du Cheval or Festival of the Horse.

The twinning arrangement between Lamorlaye, Chantilly and Gouvieux, was initiated mainly because of this equestrian link between the two regions.  

Rowallane and Slieve Croob Community Twinning Group chairwoman, Karen Patterson, said the group was given a guided visit of the race horse training tracks where animals the animals are exercised. 

“We were also welcomed by a leading race horse trainer at her stables in Lamorlaye,” she continued. “When we arrived at the castle and lake of Lamorlaye, we were given a welcome drink and treated to a performance of French accordion music.

“After a short lunch, the party was treated to a fantastic piece of street theatre, performed by the Horsemen – a group of three talented comedians, who delighted the audience in the town centre with their comedy act in Franglais, a mix of French and English.”

The twinning group chairwoman explained that when the official part of the evening ended, the visitors were introduced to their host families before an informal dinner in the White Horse restaurant.

The living horse museum in Chantilly was the venue for the group’s next excursion where they were teated to a dressage show in the Royal Stables and had time to visit some of the exhibits on display.”

“After a busy day, we enjoyed a Moroccan/Algerian meal before making our way to the castle at Lamorlaye to view an exceptional sound and light show. The acts included opera with performers on horseback. 

“The horses were retired race horses which had been re-trained to perform in this show. There were breathtaking displays of riders with hoops and torches on fire, made all the more spectacular against the back of the floodlit castle. 

“The finale involved life-size inflatable horses, which were manipulated by dancers who moved with the music that filled the air. A spectacular display of culture for all to enjoy.”

On Sunday morning, the group viewed a historic presentation prepared by one of the historic and cultural associations in Lamorlaye. 

Ms Patterson explained: “We were then taken on a walking tour of the old Lamorlaye. The afternoon was free for the group to view a dressage display with ballet dancers at the Diane Stables. There was also a beautiful show with Samurai warriors on horseback. 

“The activities just went on and on and the group was treated to a visit to a wine-making area in Gouvieux before being taken to the troglodyte quarter of Gouvieux and for a surprise dinner in a cave.”

The dinner was prepared by member of the committee and made all the more special because of the sing-song started by Hervé Moula, chairwoman of the Lamorlaye Comité de Jumelage, supported by Cllr Andrews and guests from Ballynahinch. The atmosphere was relaxed and this was the end to a lovely day.”

On the final day of the visit, the group was invited to view the facilities at the Golf du Lys, an exclusive golf course, which has facilities to host conferences, weddings and events, along with outdoor and indoor tennis courts, an outdoor pool and golf courses. 

Ms Patterson said: “The golf club has already hosted some players from Ballynahinch and they have asked us if we are interested in organising a reciprocal golf tournament with the local golf courses in Co Down. 

“We hope we will be able to take them up on this proposal when the French visit us in 2020.

“Our final lunch was in a redundant factory complex which has been converted in to a stunning hotel and restaurant – testament to how an old property can be re-generated for the good of the community.

 “The programme for the weekend provided us with ample opportunity to meet up with those who had travelled over to Ballynahinch in July and to meet with some old faces from previous exchanges between Lamorlaye and Ballynahinch. It is our hope we will be able to sign a twinning charter with both the local council for the next five to ten years.

Ms Patterson said that the two pilot exchange trips have shown the relationship is still as vibrant as ever, with new people getting involved on both sides.

She added: “We are hoping to be in a position to host a small group over the St Patrick’s weekend and to take a small group out to Lamorlaye for the Bastille Day celebrations. We always welcome new families who would be interested in hosting French people and who would be interested in travelling out to France as part of the exchange. 

“Those travelling pay for their own flights and the Rowallane and Slieve Croob Community Twinning Group has facilitated the visits through the generous support of Newry Mourne and Down Council.  We would also like to thank Cllr Robert Burgess for helping us to revive the Lamorlaye Twinning Project and Cllr Andrews for representing the local council and accompanying the group to Lamorlaye and for his rendition of the Marseillaise in French.”