Meabh an ‘excellent ambassador’ in USA

Mr Lewis Porter, Sister City International liaison officer, told a committee meeting this week that the student Meabh Carlin, is presently at LaGrange College for a year’s study.

He said that Meabh has been having a fantastic time in LaGrange, sister city of Craigavon, and is proving to be an excellent ambassador for the borough.

He said that Meabh had described the LaGrange College as “paradise”. She has made the cross-country team, is a member of the choir, has given speeches and talks, and has been involved in organising different cultural experiences.

“She really likes her room mates and feels that she is learning a lot from her classes. In addition to business classes, she is also taking a photography course and Spanish classes,” said Mr Porter.

Craigavon Sister City chairman, Councillor Kenneth Twyble, said they were delighted to learn of the great impression being made by the Lurgan student in LaGrange, and the strengthening of the ties between the American and Northern Ireland sister cities.

A leading gospel group from LaGrange in Georgia may be visiting Craigavon next year to take part in a Gospel Fest music festival.

Mr Colin Elliott, of the local Live Issue group who visited LaGrange recently, revealed this at a meeting this week of the Craigavon Sister City International Committee.

Mr Elliott, of Moyallon, Portadown, said the LaGrange Group is called ‘Purely Acoustic’, and he said it is comprised of three sisters who have a strong affiliation with Ireland, and whose music was strongly influenced by the Ulster-Scots and Irish traditional music.

The sisters, Eleanor, Erin and Hannah Tabatha, are highly talented.

“We have since invited the American group to visit us next August, as part of the Gospel Fest music festival which Live Issue is involved in,” he said. The Gospel Fest event will take place in the Waringstown area.

Craigavon Sister City committee chairman, Councillor Kenneth Twyble, said this was excellent news, and he was confident that if the visit took place, the LaGrange group would be warmly welcomed.

Mr Elliott said the Live Issue group had performed in various venues in LaGrange, and had had received a great welcome. He paid tribute to Mrs Margaret Ross, and other members of the LaGrange Sister City committee, for their hospitality.

“We have made many good friends in LaGrange, and I trust that in return we have been very good ambassadors for the Craigavon area,” he said