The History Of The Present Twinning
 

In February of 1986 we, the Chamber of Commerce, received a letter from the Deputy Mayor of Chartres de Bretagne who was in charge of the culture in Chartres de Bretagne viz Paul Cogoz. The letter came through the Ireland- Brittany organisation and Limerick County Council. The letter indicated the interest of Chartres de Bretagne in twinning and asked us to consider it at its March meeting, the Chamber of Commerce considered the letter and its contents and appointed a sub committee to pursue the matter.

The meeting formed a Twinning Commission and the following were elected;
President: Harry O`Reardon  Secretary: Michael Nash
Assist Secretary: Carmel Blanche
Joint Treasurers: Tom O`Brien, M.T. Meaney
P.R.O. Deirdre Barrett

It was decided at this meeting that the twinning committee would remain a sub committee of the Chamber of Commerce from which it received funds and support. On 17th July 1988 the official signing of the Twinning Charter took place outside of the Desmond Castle in glorious weather, and was attended by all local political representatives In 1991 we welcomed a coach full of Chartrains to our town on 20th April for a week, and they were exposed to all things Irish. Some of the French were on Radio Limerick and attended a league hurling semi-final in Páirc na nGeal. So many memories were provided by great friends of the Twinnings since its foundings and continue to this present day.
 

We have also played our role on the Economic front, we paved the way for a visit by Shannon Development to Rennes and also visits by Mr.G.Collins T.D. as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1991, we were also involved in arranging the A.G.M. of Rennes Chamber of Commerce for Limerick in 1991, within the same year we involved in the launching of European Communities Sprint Programme in the Shannon region. In 1992 there was a Chartres de Bretangne entry in the Lady of Desmond festival.

The success of the twinning between Newcastle West and Chartres de Bretangne is beyond question, an important element of this success resulted from an informal chat between Anne Lenihan-Keane and Madame Jocelyne Guillion during the first visit of our French friends. They set about planning the first class exchange trip between pupils of the Vocational school and the College de Fontenay this soon became an annual event.

The Library has been involved in the twinning from the start. The Library houses the Charter of Twinning signed over ten years ago by Harry O`Reardon and Michael Nash. Groups of visiting students and adults regularly visit the Library as part of their tour of the town. All the visitors are pleased to see the collection of presentations which are signs of bonds of friendship between the two towns. A wood carving of the towns emblems grace the library hall, a painting of St.Malo by the son of a former Mayor of Chartres, a pottery piece from Quimper and a painting of a scene in Chartres itself, all make up a welcoming collection. The Library holds a great part of the Twinning within their walls.