Traditonal Irish Music & Set Dancing - Portmagee’s Annual May Bank Holiday Weekend
2009 will be our 18th weekend of music and set dancing and we look forward to a great time with friends old and new.
It all started when Muiris O’Brien realized that some local sets were fading from memory. Relying on Muiris’s careful research we were able to give workshops to revive the “Valentia Right & Left”, the “Portmagee Meserts” and the “Caragh Lake Jig Set”.
The teaching was then taken over by Connie Ryan – the famous dancing teacher – until his sad death in 1997. We have great memories of Connie and his inspiration lives on in the Portmagee workshop.
Over the last 15 years we have been delighted to welcome dancers from America, Japan, France, Belgium, Corsica, The Netherlands and the Czech Republic – in fact last year local Julian Stracey spent a week in Prague teaching Kerry sets to our Czech friends.
It is wonderful to meet up with our faithful friends from England who make the trip every year. Also some of the group who danced in Connie’s team have returned to us every year, Betty McCoy as tutor and all the others supporting us in every way. Dancers and musicians from all over Ireland join with our faithful local dancers.
In 2005 a group of friends from Corsica further enhanced the weekend by demonstrating their beautiful Quadrille for us and gave us some great singing and fiddle playing.
The weekend programme is quite varied with dancing to live music in the Bridge Bar, a Set Dancing Workshop with tutor Betty McCoy, a special Junior Workshop on South Kerry sets and a Mighty Céilí with a top class Céilí Band.
Our music session on Sunday brings locals and visitors together. All Musicians, Singers and Storytellers are very welcome.
Last year we gave a short workshop of Two-Hand dances. It was so popular that we will keep it going for the future.
A cabaret spot on Sunday evening features “Harmonix” – a chance to relax to a different beat!
So why not join us in Portmagee for a special weekend. We will make you very welcome – including beginners. A generous weekend package is available from The Moorings or sample the delicious food in the restaurant or bar.