LIP SYNC NIGHT TO FINANCE DANCE SCHOOLS’ U.S. TRIP
There really was only one place to be on Friday night after the excellent extravaganza that was the Frostival at the Market Square and that had to be the Lip Sync Battle that took place in the Carrickdale Hotel to help raise money for two Irish Dancing schools to send 13 dancers to the World Championships next year.
Yes, the McGee and Cos Ceol Schools of Irish Dancing were hosting their solitary night to finance the journey in April to North Carolina for Abby Dunne, Elliott Kewelele, Sarah and Rachel Lee, Eva-Nicole Loye, Eoin and Oisin Weldon, Luke Barron, Aoife Campbell, Aoife Reynolds and Ryan Kelly. Such was the support that they had 17 different acts taking part in the night.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up with Linda Campbell from Lurgangreen, Regina Dunne from Kingswood and Denise Barron from Darver who all have kids heading for the States and had husbands all in action on the night. The ladies were busy selling raffle tickets and told me it was sure to be an epic night for all concerned.
Next I caught up with my old friend Christine Lee from Belfry Drive who was looking as well as ever and she was with her sons Ryan and Shane Lee, mum Lillian Lee from St. Nicholas Avenue and Ronnie McArdle from Castleross who told me they couldn’t wait to see Ciaran and Brucie in action on the night.
After this I headed over for a chat with Kathy and Cillian Cranny from Ashbrook who were there to cheer on Gillian Loughran whom was going to be singing ‘Big Hits’.
I then headed for a word with Johnny and Olive Hickey from Muirhevnamor who were with Patsy and Eileen Griffin also from Muirhevnamor who couldn’t wait to see Ciaran and Brucie on stage. John told me I have to apologise to Mark Agnew for his appearance in last week’s issue as Mary, sorry about that Mark, I’m sure Rory and Ollie got a good laugh out of that, humblest apologies there.
Not too long later I then got talking to some of the Manydown Massive and they included Sharon Durnin, Carmel Woods, Laura Crawley and Katie McEneaney who told me it was going to be hard to choose an overall winner the quality was that good!
I headed for a word with Sheila Kane from Templetown who was there with Ben, Lauren and Sharon O’Hare also from Templetown who were there for John O’Hare who was performing with Edel Woods and would be cheering the loudest for him.
After this I headed over for a quick word with Audrey, Ken and Mia Powel from Kilcurry who told me they were there for Ciaran & Brucie and were sure the lads wouldn’t let them down.
Not too long later I got talking to Richard, Aisling and Ella Gamble from Blackrock who were there to see Richard’s wife Margaret give it her all along with Roisin Soraghan and the girls were sure their mum was a real winner.
Just arrived were Amanda Branigan from Lios Mead, Siobhan Rankin from Seacrest Manor and Brian Gaughran from Blackrock who were there to see Claire Gaughran performing along with Michelle Harvey, Aoibheann Savage, Cliodhna Daly and Niamh Sloane.
I then caught up with Eddie and Patricia Duffy from Headford and Gerry and Eileen Duffy from The Meadows who were there to see nephews Garreth and Niall Weldon who were giving it their all with Alvaro Lucchesi, so basically this was going to be a performance and a half.
Not too long later I then got talking to John Tumilty and Saoirse McDermott both from Blackrock who were looking forward to an inspired performance from Cliodhna Daly, but they just weren’t sure what she and the girls were going to be singing?
After this I caught up with Kellyanne McGrory from Blackrock who told me her sister Lorraine Kelly from Darver was one of the main organisers of the event and her son Ryan is one of the dancers heading for the US of A. Kellyanne was there with her daughter Anna and her friend Lilly Delaney from Blackrock along with her dad Gerry McGrory from Lynns Road in Annagassan and partner Rose, Ryan’s brother Cian and sisters Nicole and Erin and dad Ciaran who couldn’t wait for the battle to get under way.
Finally, I got talking to Emma Nash from Redbarns Road who told me she was waiting on her parents Margie and Pat Dunne to arrive, but was sure they were going to miss the show because they’d probably get lost out in the sticks when they went to collect Brendan McElarney on the Cooley peninsula.
I then headed off, out the door into the carpark, only to meet Pat, Margie and Brendan on their way in! So much for the sticks Emma