Gathering Momentum

"The Gathering" flyers are ready. If you've been set dancing in the Boston area for any number of years, you're bound to hear about The Gathering in Killarney in February. Ger Cooney-Browne, who teaches set dancing at The Burren in Somerville, organizes the hotel and bus arrangements for most of the Americans making the trip from the northeast. Download a flyer and find more about information and articles on this traditional Irish music and dance extravaganza on the Joy of Sets website. There are set dancing workshops, sean-nos dancing workshops, ceilis, concerts, and a whole lot more.

Saturday morning set dancing workshop with Pat Murphy at the INEC - February 2009

My First "Gathering" in Killarney

After five years of set dancing, I figured I should be able to keep up with the dancing at The Gathering in Killarney, so I gave it a try. There was a group going from Boston and a couple of Harrington's dancers looking for roommates, so I booked my flight in October for the February 2009 event at the first sight of Aer Lingus's winter sale. We eventually settled on accommodations at the Gleneagle River Apartments (see travel tips for The Gathering) , which were excellent.

The fun began on Wednesday night. A group of us headed into town to dance to the Johhny Reidy Ceili Band at the Grand Hotel. The tempo was brisk. The night was fun. The small crowd of likely regulars was welcoming. The Gathering organizers sponsored an optional ceili and pub session in a nearby town.

 The activity was non-stop after that, starting with the school outreach program Thursday morning (a rewarding experience) and enhanced by a couple of independent excursions on Thursday and Friday afternoons. Set dancing ceilis on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon and sean-nos and set dancing workshops on Saturday morning and afternoon and Sunday morning filled in most of my schedule, but there were music concerts and pub sessions that I didn't want to miss - so I got very little sleep from then on. It was truly amazing.

Sunday afternoon' set dance workshop was on the Melleray Lancers Set (video posted on IrishSetDancing.ning.com  by Peter Jackson) - see set dancing notes - also known as the Waterford Lancers, from County Waterford, Ireland.

Our unofficial mini-group guide (see Frank's account of his Gathering experience) took us to a night of set dancing with the regulars at Vaughn's Barn in Kilfenora on Sunday night. In contrast to the hordes of people at The Gathering, this was very homey - the floor was full of set dancers dancing to the fabulous Four Courts Ceili Band.

All in all the trip was a nice blend of local charm, friendly faces, and Irish music and dance extravaganza.

Follow-up note May 2009: Vaughan's Pub now has its own website at http://www.vaughanspub.ie/
View a great video of set dancing at Vaughan's Pub on YouTube.

Killarney, The Gathering 2009

Just returned from the 2009 Gathering. Of the three years I have attended, this was the best yet. Dancing started in Killarney on Wednesday to the fast paced pokers from the Johnnie Reidy Band. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqwCKuMF_sw

This was followed by the annual trip to the schools as part of the community outreach program on Thursday.This year was different in that we had 8 set dancers, 6 musicians, ( four of them from France) and one French Sean Nos style dancer with blazing feet.

Thursday afternoon we were treated to a tour of the Black Valley by a friend who grew up in Dingle

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Thursday's Ceili music was provided by Micheal Sexton and Pat Walsh.

Friday during the day, we drove to Cobh in Cork to visit some relatives as well as tour the port where the "Coffin Ships" departed during the famine















Friday night we had the Brian Boru Ceili Band. As much as we thought the first three bands were terrific, the music provided by the Allow Ceili Band on Saturday was over the top. I think there were twelve instruments, all playing an uptempo style of music.  When we did the Clare Lancers figure with the 4 and 4, all 800 dancers were linked arm in arm, a sight I will never forget.

The dance floor was filled with set dancers from 8 to 80, young competition ready dancers with flying feet, old smoothies, and the ever present Kerry Crazies, all having great craic.

Matt Cunningham finished the weekend's set dancing. I can only hope that he plays the same speed when he comes to Watertown in May

Sunday PM we jumped in the car and drove to Doolin, picked up another friend, and then drove to Kilfenora, to set dance to the Four Courts Ceili Band in the Mecca of Set Dancing, Vaughan's Barn.

Article from Wales about The Gathering in Killarney

This wonderful article from Wales about The Gathering in Killarney captures the spirit and fun that those who are fortunate enough to attend The Gathering, in Killarney, in February, enjoy.

Travel to The Gathering in Killarney

If you're thinking of traveling from the States to The Gathering (the festival website - view 2008 festival information until the website is updated for 2009) in Killarney (Ireland) in February, NOW is the time to book your flight.

Take advantage of Aer Lingus' $199 each way fares from Boston and other US cities by September 19th, 2008. The festival consists of five days of concerts, ceilis, sessions, set-dance and instrument workshops at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, Ireland. To take advantage of all the festival offerings, book your flight to arrive by Wednesday for an evening session and stay through Sunday night (18th - 22nd).

To download a flyer on The Gathering and find more info, go to Irish Thymes.