What a night for Causeway GAA as club holds ‘Strictly’

THERE mustn’t have been a soul left in Causeway last Friday night, such was the crowd at the village’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ night in Ballyroe Heights Hotel.

Organised as a fundraiser for Causeway GAA, there wasn’t room to swing a cat inside the hotel’s function room as 12 dancers – all of whom had put in months of rehearsals leading up to the night – took to the floor in a bid to impress judges Caroline McEnery, Tim Landers, Michael Healy Rae and Aidan O’Mahony.

And one of the biggest cheers on the night was for Michael Healy Rae. When asked by MC for the evening, Brian Hurley, why he wasn’t abroad like the rest of the Kerry politicians, he proudly declared that he had his “priorities right”, before declaring his love too of Causeway, much to the delight of the packed room.

The dancing kicked off with a burst of energy and the opening group was full of twists, turns and cartwheels, leaving the judges suitably impressed.

Dancers taking part on the night were Chloe Carroll, Michael Foley, Sara Murphy, Tadhg Flynn, Yvonne Diggins, Liam Goggin, Courtney Dwyer, Kieran Young, Eric McHale, Frieda Leahy, Sarah Nelan, Barry Walsh, Nicole Whyte, Kieran Leahy, Cormac O’Connor, Susie White, Michaela Barrett, Michael Slattery, Siobhan Ó’Dowd, Paddy Goggin, Laura Collins and Muiris Delaney.

Sarah Nelan and Barry Walsh were chosen as the judges’ winners on the night, while Sioban Ó’Dowd and Paddy Goggin were named as the winners of thepublic vote.

All funds raised will go straight back into the club and with the appetite for more nights like ‘Strictly’ clearly there, don’t be surprised if there’s a repeat performance in 2019.

Aoife Colman, Andrea Stack, Erica Diggins and Aine Moriarty showing their support for the dancers at the Causeway GAA Strictly Come Dancing event in The Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night.

All photos by Fergus Dennehy. Noreen Carroll, Mary Ann Barrett and Emma Stritch e njoying themselves at the Causeway GAA ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ night in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night.

Martina and Robin Madden with Avril and Karen Leahy at the Causeway GAA Strictly Come Dancing night in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night.

Catherine Neelan, Teresa Moynihan and Catherine Neelan enjoying themselves at the Causeway GAA’s big night in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday.

Mike Dennehy, Dean O’Brien and Dylan McCabe showing their support for Michael and Michaela at the Causeway GAA ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ fundraising night in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night.

Moira Mahon, Katie O’Leary, Grace Leahy and Marie Flynn get into the swing of things at the Causeway GAA ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ on Friday night.