Bangor Academy  recently welcomed 40 students from the Lombardy region of Italy as part of a student exchange programme to explore the Columbanus heritage in the Bangor area.    Two schools, one from Bresica and the other from Bobbio, had previously welcomed students from Bangor Academy who had travelled to Lombardy at the end of September to learn about the Columbanus heritage in their area. 

Co-ordinated by Emma Coulter, a French teacher at Bangor Academy, and Manuela Bertoncini from the Peregrinus Project in Italy, the week-long programme included visits to both Bangor Academy and St Columbanus College; a visit to North Down Museum to see the Columbanus exhibition; a welcome reception by Councillor Gillian McCallum, Mayor of Ards and North Down Council in Bangor Castle; a bus trip to the Ards Peninsula; and a visit to the Giant’s Causeway.

Deborah Girvan, Chair of Friends of Columbanus Bangor, said, “I must congratulate Manuela Bertoncini for connecting the schools in Bangor and Italy and the teachers involved for helping to forge these important alliances between young people.  It takes an incredible amount of planning and organisation to make these exchanges happen and to give participants the opportunity to experience another culture, language and country.  Through the European Via Columbani network and the Peregrinus Project, more educational exchange programmes are being planned between France, Switzerland, Republic of Ireland, and Italy. 

If any other schools in the area are interested in becoming involved in this developing programme, please email info@friendsofcolumbanusbangor.co.uk