Munster Express Online

Fom the 4th to 10th of July last a group of 6 young people from Waterford and 2 leaders went to our twin city; Saint Herblain to meet with like minded young French people. The idea behind the trip was to develop knowledge on how democracy works at local, national and European level and to compare and contrast how young people can affect change in their respective local areas in Waterford and Saint Herblain.

A programme of workshops was arranged to discuss such themes as education, immigration, emigration, transport, stereotypes, mobility in Europe. The aim of the workshops was to encourage an exchange of ideas to take positives from both sides and create a better way forward.

The meeting took place in advance of the 30th anniversary of the twinning arrangement between Waterford and Saint Herblain. From the 14th to the 16th of October this year an event will take place in Saint Herblain to mark this event. Many ties have been forged over the 30 years of twinning, cultural, economic and personal. The meeting between the two youth groups were also set up to insure the continuation of the twinning arrangement for many years to come.

The Waterford delegation consisted of 3 members of Comhairle Na nÓg and 3 members of the Farronshoneen Community Youth Project, they were accompanied by 2 volutneer leaders; Kevin O’Shea of the Town Twinning Committee and Michelle Ryan from Waterford and South Tipperary Regional Youth Services. The trip was funded by The Town Twinning Committee, Waterford and South Tipperary Regional Youth Services and Saint Herblain City Council.

Vikki Caulfield, Nicole Breen and Cathal Ryan represented Comhairle na nÓg. Ruairi O’Dwyer, Stephen Dalton and Patrick Mulvaney represented the Farronshoneen Community Youth Project.