Social dancing back and in festive swing in North Kerry

SOCIAL dancing is back in a major way in north Kerry, where Ballybunion woman Maggie Rowan has them out in their droves on the dancefloors of the Hibernian Bar and the Parish Hall in Ballylongford every week.

And they’ve been capping off a great year a steppin’ with Christmas dance parties all week. John Kelliher’s photos from the Ballylongford Christmas social dancing party in Ballylongford say it all – dance fans coming together in fun.

“It’s all about the fun, the physical exercise and rejuvenating the social dancing scene in north Kerry, which was all but dead before we started in January,” organiser Maggie said.

“I was conscious of getting everybody out through the winter months as well as it can be a long and tough time with little activity.”

Along with Bridie Chute and Anne Marie Tydings, Maggie has also organised a monthly tea dance at the Hibernian, with an even bigger turnout than at the twice-weekly social dancing – and the proceeds going to a different cause each time.

“We’ve supported everything from the Youth café to Scoil Íosagáin, the Hospice and much more, and we get a great crowd in from Asdee to Lixnaw,” Maggie explained.

She is now calling on dancing fans to come along to two big Christmas tea dances in the Hibernian: On Friday, December 28, with Ger Walsh; and on Sunday, December

30, with Matt Dillon.

Meanwhile, the social dancing continues on Tuesday nights at the Hibernian in Ballybunion and on Friday nights in the Parish Hall in Ballylongford. All are welcome to come along and hot-foot it.

“It has grown out of my voluntary work as I saw social dancing as a great way of improving people’s lives in rural north Kerry,” Maggie said. “And they all love it.

“We started in January with about 35 people, and now we have up to 85 taking part regularly.”

Steppin’ it out for Christmas in Ballylongford: scenes from the Parish Hall dancefloor last week. Photos by John Kelliher Photos by John Kelliher Ellen Dineen, Maggie Hayes, Mary Martin, Mary Kidney, Margaret Carey, Phil Enright, Jane O’Connor and Marian Moriarty ready for the dancefloor at the Parish Hall in Ballylongford.

All photos by John Kelliher Mike Kennedy, Mary Kennedy, Maggie Hayes and Moss Diggins looking as festive as can be at the social dancing night in Ballylongford.

Eileen Carrig, Ann Normile, Teresa Sheehan, Jane O Connor, Bernie Stack, Una Mulcair at the social dancing Christmas party in Ballylongford last week.