Over 100 sportsmen and women from the Newry and Mourne District travelled to County Clare at the weekend as part of a long standing twinning initiative.
The Twinning Sports Exchange Weekend featured a range of sporting events including Soccer tournaments at Lees Road Sports & Amenity Park, Currach Racing at Clarecastle, Pitch & Putt in Ennis and Kilnamona, Boxing matches in Ennis, and a friendly Soccer match in Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Hosted by Clare County Council, the weekend series of events continued what started in 1994 when the first ever Exchange weekend took place.
According to Cllr. Paschal Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council Twinning Committee: “Since 1994, these events have grown to the extent that we now have nearly 350 people participating, from 20 clubs in 11 sporting and cultural activities which include currach racing, boxing, soccer, kayaking, set dancing, music, pitch & putt, and bowling over the weekend.”
Councillor Fitzgerald said the Twinning Sports Exchange Weekend helped to further strengthen the social, cultural and sporting links between the people of Newry and Mourne and Clare. He continued: “Clare County Council and Newry and Mourne District Council are continuing to examine new ways of forging new links between both areas as part of what has been a very successful twinning arrangement to date.”
“I wish to thank all of the clubs and organisers in County Clare and in Newry & Mourne for supporting the weekend’s activities and I hope that the links forged during the weekend will continue into the future. I also wish to acknowledge the support of Shannon Heritage and Comhaltas Ennis, who entertained our friends from Newry and Mourne at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and at the Céilí as part of the Fleadh in Cois na hAbhna, Ennis,” added Councillor Fitzgerald.
Brilliant sunshine greeted participants of the Currach Race held at the Quays in Clarecastle on Saturday. A friendly pitch and putt match took place in Kilnamona on Saturday morning, and a series of Boxing Matches at the Community Hall in Chapel Lane, Ennis were staged on Saturday evening.
Lees Road Sports & Amenity Park was the venue for U11 and U12 9-a-side round robin tournaments with children from the Clare Schoolboys/girls Soccer League Emerging Talent Programme competinh against children from the Newry and Mourne Player Development Squad. Lees Road hosted a senior challenge match between Clare Premier Division side Hermitage FC and Bessbrook United FC from the Carnbane (Newry and Mourne) Football League, while a Special Olympics 5-a-side tournament also took place.
The Twinning Sports Exchange Weekend featured a range of sporting events including Soccer tournaments at Lees Road Sports & Amenity Park, Currach Racing at Clarecastle, Pitch & Putt in Ennis and Kilnamona, Boxing matches in Ennis, and a friendly Soccer match in Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Hosted by Clare County Council, the weekend series of events continued what started in 1994 when the first ever Exchange weekend took place.
According to Cllr. Paschal Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council Twinning Committee: “Since 1994, these events have grown to the extent that we now have nearly 350 people participating, from 20 clubs in 11 sporting and cultural activities which include currach racing, boxing, soccer, kayaking, set dancing, music, pitch & putt, and bowling over the weekend.”
Councillor Fitzgerald said the Twinning Sports Exchange Weekend helped to further strengthen the social, cultural and sporting links between the people of Newry and Mourne and Clare. He continued: “Clare County Council and Newry and Mourne District Council are continuing to examine new ways of forging new links between both areas as part of what has been a very successful twinning arrangement to date.”
“I wish to thank all of the clubs and organisers in County Clare and in Newry & Mourne for supporting the weekend’s activities and I hope that the links forged during the weekend will continue into the future. I also wish to acknowledge the support of Shannon Heritage and Comhaltas Ennis, who entertained our friends from Newry and Mourne at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and at the Céilí as part of the Fleadh in Cois na hAbhna, Ennis,” added Councillor Fitzgerald.
Brilliant sunshine greeted participants of the Currach Race held at the Quays in Clarecastle on Saturday. A friendly pitch and putt match took place in Kilnamona on Saturday morning, and a series of Boxing Matches at the Community Hall in Chapel Lane, Ennis were staged on Saturday evening.
Lees Road Sports & Amenity Park was the venue for U11 and U12 9-a-side round robin tournaments with children from the Clare Schoolboys/girls Soccer League Emerging Talent Programme competinh against children from the Newry and Mourne Player Development Squad. Lees Road hosted a senior challenge match between Clare Premier Division side Hermitage FC and Bessbrook United FC from the Carnbane (Newry and Mourne) Football League, while a Special Olympics 5-a-side tournament also took place.
