Ulf marks 40 years of friendship with Ireland
Before he returned home to Germany after yet another enjoyable visit to Gorey, Ulf Brix made a presentation to Bruce Copeland and his family, to mark 40 years of friendship which led to a tradition of German students visiting Gorey each summer since 1990.
Ulf and his family know the Copelands very well at this stage. Ulf first arrived in Ireland as a young teacher 40 years ago, and was hitchhiking in Bray when he was picked up by Bruce Copeland who was travelling home to Huntington, Clogh. Bruce invited Ulf home to meet his parents, brothers, and sister on the farm, and Ulf was invited to spend the night on the farm.
The next day, he continued on his journey around Ireland, but he kept in touch with the Copelands and also with the Collier family whom he also got to know, and attended a family wedding the following year.
Ulf’s wife and sons later made trips to Ireland, and in 1990, he brought his first group of students over for a few weeks in Gorey to learn English and experience the Irish welcome he received all those years before. Last year, a reception was held in Gorey Library to mark the 25th anniversary of the trip, with visitors from the German embassy in attendance.
Ulf, who attended a Collier family christening on his last day, said that his friendship with the Copelands and Colliers had the most important impact on his life. He presented an engraved plate, bearing the crest of his home area, to them as a symbol of their very long friendship.