Competitors step out for All-Ireland dance championships

The Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort will host the 22nd All-Ireland Open Festival of Dancing Championships from Friday, October 29, to Sunday, October 31.
Over the past 22 years, the championships have been held in Gort 16 times. Competitors come from the 32 counties of Ireland to take part and compete in the slow waltz, the quickstep, the foxtrot, the old time waltzing, the Viennese waltz, the tango, rock‘n’roll and country jiving sections.
This year, for the third time, the Community Foundation for Ireland are the main supporters of the dancing championships with the Arts Council retaining their commitment for the 15th year while Failte Ireland has promoted the event.
“With the amount of positive inquiries to date the weekend promises to be as popular as previous years,” said organiser James Lee.
The weekend gets underway on Friday evening at 7pm sharp with five Old Time dancing championships. The music for all the championships over the weekend will be by Midnight Melody.
There will be social dancing on Friday night after the championships with Michael Cleary and Bridget Kelly from Donegal.
Saturday begins with junior waltzing for beginners and novice senior waltzing. The senior open standard five dance championships and the open tango also start at 2pm.
Dancing on Saturday evening begins at 7pm with the senior All-Ireland open waltzing championships and the intermediate over 50s and over 60s country jiving and rock‘n’roll championships.
The entertainment once again carries on into the night with social dancing from 11pm to 1.30am with music by PJ Murrihy and band.
On Sunday afternoon social dancing takes place from 3pm to 5.30pm with music by Midnight Melody.
That night the final session will include social and country dancing to Gene Stuart and band plus PJ Murrihy and band from 9pm to 1.30am.
The dancing couple of the weekend will be chosen by way of the points received in all the dances they took part in over the weekend.
“The over 35s open waltzing championship is a very popular category as the winners receive the large silver cup sponsored by former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds,” Mr Lee continued.
“Once again the weekend promises to be a spectacular one especially with so many hours of social dancing each night with the very best line up of social and country music. Gene Stuart and his band who packed the Classic Ballroom in Gort on many occasions is back doing a small number of shows for two months so Sunday night, October 31, will be the only Galway Show. He will be looking forward to meeting many of the old classic ballroom fans and new ones too,” Mr Lee commented.
“This is the first time that these All-Ireland Dancing Championships are held in the Lady Gregory Hotel that has all the dancers’ requirements, especially a spacious maple dance floor in the Gregory Suite where the dances are to be held,” he continued.
Over the weekend more than 300 pieces of Irish crystal, 22 trophies and 32 cups will be presented. Special weekend tickets will be available at the door on Friday night, October 29.
“Once again there will be three top adjudicators mixed from overseas and Ireland, also a highly qualified scrutineer floor steward and top MC,” Mr Lee concluded.
Additional information is available from 086 8942034.