Category: Uncategorized

The French get it right! While we celebrate our national feast day in wet and windy March, they do theirs in full summer on 14 July But not to be outdone we’ve decided to join them in celebrating it this year! So at 2.30 pm on Wednesday 14 July at Butler Gallery, the Alliance Francaise in Kilkenny will be hosting a gathering outside Butler Gallery at Evans Lane.  We will have a complimentary glass of wine (or get yourself a coffee at Muse Café) and some musical entertainment from The Sycamore Tree, playing French medieval music on the recorder.  So give yourself a later lunch break, or pause your shopping to come and join us for a glass of wine, music and chat.  Other aspects of Bastille Day (Military Parades, Jets flying past, Concerts from international stars, fireworks and dancing in the square) well, you’ll have to provide those yourself, we’ll just supply the fun, music and chat with a glass of wine! Bonne Fete!

Well, we at the Alliance Francaise Kilkenny don’t share the idea that French Language is “useless” but this is a very interesting article in the LA Review of Books on learning French and the difficulties involved and the benefits to be gained. A somewhat wry view of the process (and a very American-centric one!) but interesting nonetheless. You can read it yourself at: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-useless-french-language-and-why-we-learn-it/#!

While you are sweltering in the Heatwave (la canicule in French) remember that July 14 sees the National Feast of France when we celebrate Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and the fact that you are Citizen of the Republic and not subject of some King. So, to celebrate this (not that we need much excuse to celebrate) the Alliance Francaise of Kilkenny are gathering in Beaujolais Wine Bar (at the back of Daniel Bollard’s Pub in Kieran St.) at 8.30pm on Saturday 14th July to meet and mingle. The cost is €5 for which you get a plate of mixed cold meats and cheese, and should you wish to, you can treat yourself to some of the extensive wine and beer selections. Our President will say a few words of welcome and we’ll see how the evening pans out.

Now we know that you might prefer dancing on some village square in France on that day, but if you can’t do that, the next best thing is Beaujolais on Saturday night. And with this heatwave you’ll think you are in France. So come along if you are interested.

A reminder also that the Coin Francais continues every Thursday in the Club House Hotel from 11.00 to 13.00

Keep this date for your diary: Tuesday 4th September ( 19.00 to 21.00 in the Club House Hotel also) which is the enrolment night for our next term.

So, enjoy la canicule and Bonne Fete!

We normally have a Dinner for our May Cultural Evening to mark the end of our academic year and this year it is a very special one. For this year we are celebrating 70 years of Alliance Francaise activities in Kilkenny.

To mark this occasion we are having a gala evening in the River Court Hotel, John St., Kilkenny on Saturday 19th May 2018. Your evening will begin at 7.00pm with a Cocktail Reception on the Terrace (or the Riverview Bistro), overlooking the iconic Kilkenny Castle, we then adjourn to the Pembroke Suite for a delightful four course dinner.

We follow that with entertainment from the famous Irish Tenor Patrick Rafter who with his wife and accompanist Maura will provide an experience of French Arias and Songs.

Then it will be music in the Irish Tradition from Na Gerailtig featuring Mary Fitzgerald (Vocals and Guitar) and Áine Fitzgerald (Vocals, Concertina and Tin Whistle).

It promises to be a memorable evening of good company, fine food and superb entertainment . The Dress Code is “Cocktail”, and the cost a mere bagatelle at €40.

So  if you are interested in coming please let us know (email info@afkilkenny.org) and follow up on the other events that Saturday: the Royal Wedding (hats optional) or the FA Cup Final (scarves and jerseys optional) and make your way to THE event of the 19th May, on a balmy early summer evening as the sun sets on Kilkenny Castle…
Tell us that you will be there along with your partners or guests to celebrate 70 years of the Alliance Francaise in Kilkenny.

Let us know by 1st May, we need to know the numbers!

Getting to stick to your New Year’s Resolutions is difficult. Changing the habits of a lifetime can take quite a bit of effort.  Your New Year’s Resolutions will surely have included some aspect of self-improvement. Possibly, it is losing weight, getting fit, quitting smoking or spending less time online, but should it not also include learning (or improving) your French?  The Alliance Française of Kilkenny is part of the worldwide Alliance Française Foundation promoting language learning and cultural activities.  Based in the Club House Hotel in Kilkenny classes are offered to all abilities with both evening and daytime classes. These include Beginners, Improve Your French, and two advanced classes: current affairs (les Actualitiés) and the French Book Club.  We also have special classes dedicated to Leaving Cert students geared at the oral and aural exams.

But why should you learn French? There are many reasons from career-based ones, where French speakers are in huge demand in the software support and sales area particularly for sales to central and western Africa where French is widely spoken, to personal ones like holidays and culture. But let us not forget the recent scientific research has shown that keeping the brain active by the practice of focus on language processing can help in staving off the effects of mental deterioration and even Alzheimer’s.

So along with getting your body fit this New Year you should also keep your brain fit and increase your social communication and connections. You can even do all together by walking or cycling to the Club House Hotel for the French classes! Enrolment with more information and a chance to meet the teachers is in the Club House Hotel on Tuesday 16^th January 2018 from 7 to 9 pm. Classes will start on the following week (22nd January 2018).