Westport celebrates as it is twinned with the French town of Plougastel in Brittany.
The west of Ireland rain did not dampen the ceremonies to mark the twinning of Westport in Mayo and Plougastel in Brittany. The people of Westport were joined by Breton visitors to celebrate the union and links between the two towns.
The celebrations included a colourful parade from Newport Road to the Octagon where the ceremonies took place. The Westport Brass Band, the Castlebar Brass Band, the Dookinelly Pipers Band, the Ballintuber Ceilí Band, the Army Band of the Western Command, were joined by traditional Irish and Breton dancers and musicians.
Speaking on behalf of the people of Brittany, Jacques Fournier says that the twinning of the two towns reinforces their connections as Celtic people.
In the old times, the links between Ireland and Brittany were very tight.
Between the 4th and 8th centuries, monks crossed the sea from Ireland to Brittany and settled there and taught Christian values.
A delegation from Westport had already visited Plougastel where a street was named 'Rue de Westport' in honour of the west of Ireland town. Reciprocating the gesture, a new housing estate in Westport for older people was named Plougastel Court. A special friendship pact was drawn up and read aloud at the ceremonies.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 1 September 1978. The reporter is Jim Fahy,
