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.

A Set Dance Ceili, it wasn't

Last February, I was at the Micho Russell festival in Doolin, County Clare set dancing to the music of Chris Droney and the Four Courts Ceili Band. At the end of the afternoon, the band leader announced that they would be playing Monday Evening at Vaughn’s Barn in Kifenora, for a special benefit for a priest.

I mentioned to my friend that I would be in Kilfenora on Monday visiting relatives and said that I planned to go to the benefit.

When I arrived at Vaughn’s, I sat near the door to put on my dancing shoes. All of a sudden there was raucous cheering going on outside the main door. You have to understand, that two people would constitute a crowd in Kilfenora at 9PM on a Monday. My curiosity got the better of me and I went to see what all the excitement was. You can imagine my surprise to see hundreds of Priests, Nuns and people in Chinese Kimona’s cheering speaker after speaker, on a makeshift podium, in front of Vaughn’s Pub.

I quickly retreated inside and saw Bill Lynch, the editor of Set Dance News, who was capturing the event with his camera. I asked him about the benefit that was supposed to take place and he told me I was in error, it was not a benefit, it was TedFest 08, a memorial weekend in honor of the Irish hit TV series “Father Ted”

Just then all hell broke loose, the TedFesters all came at once, inside, forming a parade. Those of us who were there to set dance were in shock. The Ted Festers had their own emcee who announced that we were all there for an "Ecumenaceili" and then proceeded to teach the marchers a few Ceili dances, all in costume, of course. Have you ever seen Priests and Nuns, accompanied by Chinese, dance the Stack of Barley?

The Four Courts Ceili Band did play for the event, but I am willing to bet this was one of the more eclectic events that ever participated in.
The look on Chris Droney’s face was priceless. It looked like he was thinking, "how in God's name did this happen to me and when will it end".

After an hour of watching, we decided that it was best to leave Vaughn’s to the TedFest revelers.

A night to remember, but not for the set dancing.