Galway’s oldest, most vibrant, and enduring town twinning, with the Breton city of Lorient, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and a feast of events is planned to mark this milestone.
Taking place between March and August, this golden anniversary is set to be a true highlight of Galway’s 2025 cultural calendar. The public will enjoy music concerts, dance workshops, sporting events, a major display marking the maritime traditions of both cities, and there will also be a treat for whisky connoisseurs.
The Twinning agreement was developed in 1974 and became official in 1975. The main drivers were Michael D. Higgins, then a member of Galway Corporation, now Uachtarán na hÉireann, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, then a Breton councillor who later served in Ministerial positions in the French government.
While town twinnings often operate solely at the level of local government - and the 50th anniversary will see important political and business engagements between the two cities - Galway-Lorient has always benefitted from an active, dynamic engagement, and public involvement, driven by the shared Celtic culture and identity of Ireland and Brittany.
This has resulted in Galway musicians at the InterCeltique Festival - one of Europe’s most prestigious folk/trad events - and sporting engagements between Galway and Breton teams, principally in rugby and Gaelic Games, with France and Brittany boasting their own GAA men’s and women’s teams.
For Catherine Gagneux, French Honorary Consul—Galway and head of the Galway-Lorient Twinning committee, involvement and exchanges between the Galway and Lorient publics, as well as the building of friendships, provide the backbone of the relationship and are a key element in what the 50th-anniversary celebrations hope to achieve.
"Long and lasting friendships have been formed over the last 50 years," she said. "The one between Uachtarán Michael D Higgins and Jean-Yves Le Drian is often mentioned but many others exist and are developing, especially since the sailing trip in 2019, and more recently with Galway Bohemians Soccer club, music group Galvian Way, and many more. It is the true reflection and definition of twinning where people share their common interests and cultures and grow together as communities."
The twinning committee in Galway consists of very active members bringing all communities together: Seamus Keady, Marian Ní Chonghaile, Julie Ann de Brún, Isbeal Nic Aoidh, Johnny Shorten, and William Cahill.
Get involved in the 50th Anniversary celebrations
With 50 years of activity between Galway and Lorient, Ms Gagneux is appealing to the Galway public to share any photographs and memorabilia from past Twinning events, as well as stories and memories, especially those relating to friendships formed between Galwegians and Lorients.
These will be collected and shared publicly throughout the planned 50th anniversary events, to act as a representation of the personal effect the Twinning has had on the peoples of both cities.
"The Galway-Lorient twinning is the first and oldest twinning between France and Ireland," said Ms Gagneux. "Hence the 50th anniversary marks a significant milestone during which we wish to celebrate all that were involved and look towards new ways to develop the exchanges."
To share your stories and photos of the last 50 years of the Galway-Lorient Twinning, email galwaylorienttwinning@gmail.com
Keep in touch with the latest developments via Galway-lorient.eu and on social media.
Cover photo by Andrew Muldowney.
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