Moyle Twinning give schools £150 for exchange visits

The aim of the money is to help provide financial assistance for student exchange visits.

Both Cross and Passion College and Ballycastle High School regularly participate in sending students abroad and since Moyle TWA is twinned with Pourrieres in France, members decided to make a monetary contribution in support of the arrangement.

Seamus Blaney, President of Moyle Twinning Association and committee member, Karen Toner, presented the cheques last Thursday much to the delight of the two schools.

Both language teachers said the gesture would make a real difference.

Mary Campbell, Head of Languages at Cross and Passion College, said the amount - £150 – reflected much credit on the Association and thanked members for their consideration.

Ruth Clarke, French teacher at Ballycastle High, was equally praiseworthy and told Mr Blaney that the donation would be put to good use.

Mr Blaney said: “The donations form part of our commitment to promoting exchange visits particularly where local schools are concerned.

“We also hope to make further financial contributions in the future.

“Initially, we had written to three schools including the ones who responded.

“We are still waiting for a reply from Dunluce and we hope they will take up the offer as well.”

Four students from Cross and Passion – Sean Brogan, Uainin Sands-Robinson, Joe McToal and Conor Henry are going to France in just under two weeks.

Meanwhile, Moyle Twinning Association have revealed that a brand new website is currently being designed accompanied by a Facebook facility.

Chairperson, Catherine McCambridge, said the old website had become tired and dated and that a new one had been deemed necessary to facilitate a fresh approach from the Association.

She explained to the Times: “We are planning a full year of activity including hosting visitors from Ballinasloe and Pourrieres and it is also hoped that we can also send a delegation to France to further cement our twinning relationship.”