An event to celebrate the close relationship between the people of the town of Eu in the Normandy region of France and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) took place at the end of August.

The Mayor of Eu, Francoise Gouet together with Cllr. Kevin Humphreys, who was representing Dublin’s Lord Mayor, performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the New Irish Quarter and the naming of a street, called Rue de Dublin.

Mr Gerry Kelly, Director of Social Regeneration for the DDDA, along with other representatives from the Docklands council, was on hand to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In 2001, the Docklands Authority began a programme to sponsor French lessons within St. Laurence O’Toole girls’ primary school and St. Laurence O Toole CBS in the North Wall area. The programme, which starts from second class, focuses not only on French language, but also engages the children in French life and culture and culminates in a cultural exchange programme.

Each year the Dockland Authority, along with sponsoring French classes, also sponsor a trip to Eu for fifth class students to practice their language skills and to help them develop a clearer understanding of French culture.

The children spend a day with their counterparts in the local school and visit Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and other well-known cultural exhibits and participate in an official reception with the Mayor of Eu.

Gerry Kelly, who has been involved with the exchange programme since its inception, said: “the naming of Dublin Street along with the development of the new Irish quarter in Eu is a very proud moment for us in the Docklands. We always strive to develop education and social regeneration programmes that will have a lasting impact. We know that the students get a great deal out of this cross cultural exchange programme between Eu and Dublin, but that the townspeople of Eu would construct a new street and a new quarter and name it after our city and country is nothing short of wonderful.”

The town of Eu is the final resting-place of Saint Laurence O’Toole, patron saint of Dublin and the North Wall Parish in the Docklands

Pictured from left is Gerry Kelly, Director of Social Regeneration, Dublin Docklands Authority, Francoise Gouet, Mayor of Eu, Councillor Kevin Humphreys, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Donall Curtin, Board member, Dublin Docklands Authority.