Saint Patrick’s Day in Granville (France)

In the neighbouring village of St Pair-sur-Mer, Granville Douzelage celebrated St Patrick’s Day in style last week. First, all the children from the local nursery and primary schools (230 in all) had an Irish day, dressing in green, learning about Ireland and St Patrick, and enjoying an Irish school dinner (Irish stew!). Meanwhile, it was also time to celebrate St Patrick in the village’s two care homes. In the afternoon there was an Irish tea party in the village hall, first for all the school children, then open to the public, with Guinness cakes (and Guinness!), a quiz on Ireland, Irish music (bouzouki and bodhran) and beginners’ Irish dancing. Free entry for everyone dressed in green! Proceeds from the sale of cakes and the tombola were in aid of Ukraine and Siret*.

After the tea party, a local band paraded with the crowds to the village church which was lit up in green. Most of the local shops, bars and restaurants joined in, with contributions, decorations and Irish meals and drinks in the evening. Great fun was had by all.

* Granville has raised a huge amount of money – which was sent to Siret, our Douzelage partner town in Romania – to help those who are fleeing the war in Ukraine and are entering via Siret, only three kilometers from the border with Ukraine. On top of it a truck with bare essentials left Granville some days ago and arrived this weekend in Siret.