A long way from Clare to here

WITH phrases like “I’m grand” and “That’s class” tripping off their tongues, it looks like a group of teenagers visiting Clare all the way from Australia fully immersed themselves in the local culture.

The group of 13 pupils, aged 14 to 17 years, were visiting from Clare High School in the Clare Valley, South Australia, which has strong links with the Banner County. The pupils visited as part of a curriculum programme with their sister school, St Joseph’s Secondary School in Spanish Point. They were accompanied on their trip by their principal and school teaching staff, as well as Clare Valley community representatives.

 

Seventeen-year-old Maddy Zweck said, “I’ve been having a really good time here and I’m really enjoying it. I’ve never been here before but both my sisters have and they really loved it. We’re learning lots of new words, like ‘grand’ and ‘That’s class’ and we’ve been sharing some of our own phrases. I’m really enjoying staying with my host family in Spanish Point and I would definitely consider coming back to see more of the county.”

According to Rose Hampel, international programme co-ordinator at Clare High School, “This visit is about building on our relationship with our sister school, St Joseph’s Secondary School and also with County Clare. We want the students to learn as much as possible and to give them the best experience we can.”

The teenagers were officially welcomed by Mayor of Clare Pat Daly at a reception in Áras Contae an Chláir this week. They were also met by the chairperson of the Twinning Committee, Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald, on Tuesday and were given an opportunity to share ideas with members of Comhairle na nÓg, as well as visit Coláiste Muire in Ennis to learn about the progress being made under the Green Schools Programme.

Commenting on the visit, Councillor Daly stated, “I am delighted to welcome this group of young people to our county and it’s especially important that they are visiting in the year of The Gathering 2013. I hope they will enjoy their stay and will encourage their families and friends to make further trips to our county.”

Councillor Fitzgerald added, “Twinning is about developing links with other towns, locations and destinations to foster and promote tourism, economic development and cultural appreciation and this has certainly been achieved, with the very many delegations over the years from Clare Valley, South Australia.”

He continued, “Clare High School has been coming to County Clare for the past few years and is part of the success story of the twinning arrangement with Clare County Council and Clare and Gilbert Valley Councils, which started in 1986. It is hoped that Roy Blight, chief executive officer with Clare and Gilbert Valley’s Council, will also make a visit to Clare this year, which will also tie in with The Gathering 2013.”

Principal of Clare High School, Rob Knight, said, “Clare Valley in South Australia shares a wonderful historic connection with County Clare, Ireland. Your people have shared countless stories with us and have captured our imagination with stories from days gone by. We are hopeful that students from Clare will travel to Clare in South Australia in 2014 before our return again in 2015.”