2020 officers remain after twinning association AGM

The AGM of the Fermoy- Ploemeur- Nowa Deba Twinning Association was held on 2nd February via Zoom.

Present: Daire Brunicardi, Anne Feerick, Gerry Feerick, Mary Murphy, Claire O’Connor, Ciaran O’Connor, Catherine Slattery, Eileen Kelleher, Marian Ryan, Mary Spillane, Ann O’Leary, Ted O’Leary, Maureen Condon, Tim Sheehan, Maura Sheehan, Kate Murphy, Mary O’Connor, Mary Ryan, Cllr. Noel McCarthy. Apologies from Melinda O’Driscoll, Mary Crowley, Eileen Fenton, Christine Hyland and Fiona Hetherston.

Due to Covid-19 the only event which had taken place since the last

AGM was the Christmas social at the Golf Club in 2019. The treasurer’s report reflected this lack of activity.

Correspondence has been maintained with the Ploemeur Association, who are in the process of writing a book on 40 years of the Fermoy - Ploemeur Twinning and some of our members have contributed with photos and documents and our president Daire Brunicardi has been asked to write an introduction.

In the early part of 2020 we were contacted by members of the local community drawing our attention to the fact the Nowa Deba was one of many Polish municipalities which had declared themselves to be LGBT free. Disquiet was expressed at Fermoy’s association with a town whose ethos was so clearly contrary to that of the majority of Irish people.

At a specially convened meeting on 9th March, it was decided that any decision regarding termination of association with Nowa Deba was in the hands of our Municipal District Council as we, as a Twinning Association, act on their behalf. Ultimately, the council decided to terminate the twinning arrangement with Nowa Deba and did so formally on 20th October, 2020. Since then, it appears that Nowa Deba has revoked its LGBT free status, but the council has as yet received no official confirmation of this.

Because there had been no exchange visit and no activities during the year, it was proposed and agreed that the current officers should remain in place until the next AGM. President Daire Brunicardi; Vice president Gerry Feerick; Treasurer Marion Ryan; Assistant treasurer Anne Feerick; Secretary Claire O’Connor; Assistant secretary Mary Ryan; PRO Ann O’Leary.