COS COS FESTIVAL
PORTUGUESE STICK DANCERS TAKE PART FOR FIRST TIME
ANYONE who got the chance to visit the Cos Cos Festival over the weekend was in for a real treat.
The line-up of performers even included an international troupe of dancers all the way from Portugal. These traditional stick dancers or ‘Pauliteriros’ in colourful costumes gave a series of impromtu ‘Flash Mob’ shows of one of their countries most traditional dance forms.
Organiser Brenda O’Callaghan was delighted with this new ‘international dimension’ and reported that the dancers who managed to dance a jig on the top of Kings Mountain were extremely popular with attendees.
Of course the annual Cos Cos Festival is a celebration of our oldest tradional art forms and there was plenty of top quality performances to see over the few days. Musicians and dancers also travelled from other parts of Ireland, including the Traditional Music Orchestra ‘In Tune for Life’ from County Tipperary.
“This young talented group put on an amazing show before a packed audience in Rathcormac Hall on Saturday night,” says Brenda. This year’s festival was bigger and better than ever according to the committee who put in so much hard work in advance. Although the weekend weather was a bit of a mixed bag, many of the outdoor events enjoyed glorious sunshine.
While the indoor concerts were spectacular as Brenda explains: “We had a very special concert in Drumcliffe Church on Saturday night with award winning Sean Nós singer Lorcán Mac Mathúna and renowned fiddler Daire Bracken with Pread Meader for a unique evening of traditional music, Sean Nós Dance and poetry. “
Meanwhile the festival marquee in Rathcormac was a hive of activity all weekend with a number of free performances drawing in the crowds.
The Wild Atlantic Sean Nós Dancing competition took place in Collins Lounge from lunchtime on Sunday afternoon and was followed by a rousing Celebration Céilí in Rathcormac Hall from 4pm with the world famous Kilfenora Céilí Band, ensuring the festival went out with a bang.
“It was great to see so many local people come out and support the festival,” says Brenda “And also the growing number of visitors. We are thankful to the community for their support.”