Twelve couples limber up for Strictly Come Dancing

THE second annual Strictly Come Dancing fundraiser will be held in The Armada Hotel, Spanish Point on Saturday, November 24 and Friday, November 30.

Last year’s event, in aid of Doonbeg charity, Help the Cherven Orphans, raised just over €26,500. Such was the public interest, a second night was held the following week.

This year, former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey will be among the guest judges. The event will be in aid of Doonbeg Cherven Orphans and a nominated local charity.

Preparations under the guidance of choreographer Christina Cawte are already underway and the 12 dancing couples are as follows: Shane Ryan and Edel Conway (Doonbeg), Declan Meaney and Annie Morrissey (Cooraclare-Cree), Martin Downes and Stephanie Foley (Cross), Shane Keane and Laura Foley (Carrigaholt), Michael O’Shea and Stephanie Haugh (Kilkee), Ann Glynn and Ian Lynch (Kilrush), Eoin Malone and Adrienne Nugent (Labasheeda/Killimer), Mary Flynn and Thomas Downes (Kilmihil/Cranny), Michael Hoey and Michelle Hoey (Ennistymon), Edel Kenny and Alan O’Brien (Lahinch), Johnny Daly and Davina McCarthy (Kilmurry Ibrickane) and Niall Quinn and Louise Talty (Miltown Malbay).

The charity, which has been operational for 11 years, aims to build a halfway house for teenagers and young adults in Cherven, Belarus. Edel Smith from Doonbeg, who runs the Doonbeg Cherven Orphans charity, told The Clare Champion the money raised in aid of her charity will make a huge difference to the lives of marginalised youngsters in Cherven.

“Following last year’s Strictly Come Dancing, Piotr, a 20-year-old boy from Belarus, came to live with me in Ireland for three and half months. Sending him back to Belarus was the hardest thing I have ever done.

“Piotr was placed in Cherven Orphanage for special needs children when he was 10 years old. He had no special needs but remained there for nine years. He would still be in institutional care if we had not fought to get him out. He would have spent his life in care if we had not intervened,” Edel explained.

“Most of these children and young adults, who have been placed in institutional care, many from the time they are babies, will live out their lives never knowing what it is to be part of a family, to know the love of a family.

“They will never have a say in any part of their lives, they have no control over the direction of their lives. This, for me, is heart-breaking. I have known and loved these children for 11 years and to know them is something special.

“As my good friend Teresa says, they are all ‘little angels’. I cannot live with the idea that they will live out their lives in a system, which does not value them as human beings. That’s why this halfway house project is so important. It will give them back their freedom in a safe and sheltered environment to prepare them for the outside world,” Edel stressed.

She also outlined her appreciation for the time and effort donated by the 24 dancers.

“I understand it is a big undertaking for all concerned and I really do appreciate it so much. Without their participation and the level of commitment they have already shown to this project, it would not be a success. However, the person to whom I owe the most gratitude of all is Christina Cawte. Without her, none of this would be possible.

“The time and effort she put in last year and again this year is something that I will never be able to thank her enough for. She does all of this in her own time, even bringing dancers to her house at weekends to practise with them. She is so professional and is an amazing choreographer. She is also a fantastic dancer herself and anyone who takes her Zumba classes will vouch for this,” Edel noted.

“I will make sure that when this housing project goes ahead in Belarus, the young adults benefiting from this are aware of the hard work that the dancers and Christina have put in.

“Having the support of all these people makes what we do so much easier because at times it can be very difficult to be so emotionally involved in this charity work,” she concluded.