KildareNet News

NAAS, 31 July 2002: by Brian Byrne. The Omaha twinning delegation to Naas have a very full weekend of activities organised for them by Naas town councillors.

When they arrive in Naas on Friday morning, they will be met by Cllr Seamie Moore and Naas historian Paddy Behan and will travel directly from Naas Town Hall to see the boglands (above) heritage centres at Peatland World and Lullymore. Among the attractions will be old bogworkers' tools (right), as well as neolithic Irish dwellings (below).

The group will then be taken to Robertstown to see details of how the Grand Canal Company provided the national freight service before the railways came along and killed off the waterways as commercial entities. The Hotel at Robertstown (below) has memorabilia of the canal's commercial days.

Later that evening they will meet with the Naas families who are hosting the members of the delegation, and after that they will be brought greyhound racing at Newbridge Dog Track, where they will also have a meal. For any of them that feel like it afterwards, there will be ‘nightcaps’ at the Town House Hotel.

On Saturday, after a ‘free’ morning, they will spend the afternoon at the Japanese Gardens and the National Stud and then return to Naas for the official signing of the Twinning Charter in Naas Town Hall before going to dinner at Naas Race Course with Naas councillors and their spouses.

Sunday’s activities will begin with Mass at the Church of the Irish Martyrs in Ballycane, at which music will be provided by the Nas na Riogh Singers. Lunch will be a barbeque at Naas Rugby Club, and during the afternoon the delegates have a choice of watching a GAA match on the Rugby Club’s big screen, or visiting Russborough House in Blessington.

Sunday’s events will conclude with a Musical Evening at Kilashee House Hotel, organised by Mona Conroy.

On Monday morning, Paddy Behan will give a guided tour of Naas, which will be followed by lunch in the Town House Hotel hosted by the Naas Twinning Committee. An afternoon at Naas Races will be rounded off with an Irish Night in the Town House Hotel.

The delegation leaves Naas on Tuesday morning.