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The Shindig is a January highlight  The
Shindig traditional music and set dance festival weekend 2008 takes place
on January 18, 19 and 20 at the Brandon Hotel conference centre Tralee
Dessie O’Halloran of Say You Love Me and Courtin’ In The Kitchen
fame has now been confirmed as a special guest at The Shindig Festival.
He will feature in many of the sessions during the weekend there is also
have an extra céilí on Saturday afternoon with the Abbey
Céilí Bband.
The Shindig traditional music and set dance festival, now in its 15th
year, is getting bigger and better each year this year is going to be
a record year as more people from much farther due to an increased advertising
campaign.
The Brandon Hotel at this stage is nearly fully-booked for accommodation
with visiting dancers from all over Ireland and as far away places as
Canada, America, France, Italy, Norway, Germany and Britain.
The weekend kicks off on Friday night January 18 with a dance workshop
at 7.30pm.
The teacher for this workshop is well-nown dancer Ger Butler from Co.
Roscommon. He will be teaching battering steps as used in Clare-style
dancing.
This will be followed by a céilí at 10pm in the grand hall
of the conference centre with music by the very popular Swallow’s
Tail Céilí Band from Sligo.
Saturday morning at 10.30am the dance workshops will begin with two different
workshops with Pat Murphy and Ger Butler sharing the teaching of set dances
at one workshop and Roisin ni Mhainin will be teaching Connemara Séan-Nós
dancing at her workshop upstairs.
These workshops are geared towards both beginners and advanced dancers
as each step and movement will be explained in detail by the tutors
Pat Murphy is a well-known set dance teacher he is also the author of
two books on traditional Irish set dancing, which gives detailed instruction
on 64 different set dances from different regions of Ireland.
Pat is renowned for his easy going, laid back, style of teaching which
makes everybody feel relaxed and at ease. The sets being taught during
the weekend will come from different regions of Ireland and are sure to
delight everyone.
Ger Butler, who is making his shindig debut this January, will be teaching
a special workshop on the Clare-style of battering in the upstairs hall
of the Brandon hotel.
This special workshop takes place on Friday night at 7.30pm and is a great
opportunity for anybody wishing to improve his or her dance footwork with
an expert teacher.
Roisin ni Mhainin will be teaching the Connemara Séan-Nós
dancing at her workshops during the weekend at 10.30am on Saturday and
at 10.30am on Sunday in the upstairs parkview hall of the Brandon hotel.
Roisin has won the Oireactas All-Ireland Dance Championships several times
in the past and is a very popular teacher, who attracts dancers from all
over the world to her shindig classes.
The set dance céilí schedule is as follows: Friday night
at 10pm it’s the Swallow’s Tail Céilí Band.
Saturday afternoon at 2.30pm, it’s the Abbey Céilí
Band from Cork.
Saturday night at 10pm it’s the Davey Céilí Band from
Meath.
Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm, it’s the Johnny Reidy Céilí
band from Kerry.
Sunday night is the last céilí of the weekend and it’s
the Michael Sexton and Pat Walsh Céilí duo from Clare and
Cork which will run from 8.30pm to midnight.
There will be lots of sessions during the weekend with Donnie Nolan and
Taylor’s Cross Céilí band, Andy O’Connell and
jig time céilí band and also special guest Dessie O’Halloran.
People can arrive without a partner as Paddy Hanafin says he will provide
one and who knows what this might lead to.
Details from 066-7126810 or mobile 086-3848761 email phanafin@iolfree.ie
www.shindigfestival.com
The 2008 Comhaltas na Breataine calendars are now available for sale
they are on the same format as last year with pictures of Comhaltas activities
and some dates of events for the coming year.
The price is again £5 including p&p from the London Irish
centre 50-52 Camden Square, London NW1 9 XB or e-mail: londonoffice@comhaltas.co.uk |
