Waterford dance club step it out in Liverpool

A group of set dancers and musicians from County Waterford travelled over to the UK recently for what turned out to be a very successful trip as part of a cultural exchange.

Sliabh gCua set dancing tutor, Meadhbh Houlihan, and members of the Sliabh gCua Set Dancing Club along with their families and friends, travelled to the Liverpool Irish Centre for their first exchange trip since 2018, due to Covid-19. 

For 46 years the club has enjoyed exchange trips with the Liverpool Irish Centre, all of which commenced with the legendary Sliabh gCua Set Club founder, Monnie Hallahan. This year the group had an early 4am start from the meeting point at St Mary’s Church, Touraneena, before travelling by bus to Dublin.

The group, composed of 49 people, stopped off at the Chester Oaks Shopping Village, in Wales, for a shopping browse and something to eat.

On arrival in Liverpool later that day, the group was greeted at their hotel by Kathleen Cunningham and her family. Kathleen's late father Tommy Walsh, first met Monnie in Cahir House Hotel, 50 years ago and that was the beginning of the exchange trips.

The Déise contingent then took a bus to the Liverpool Irish Centre where there was a small music session, dancing and food available. Towards the end of the night there was a girls versus boys soccer game played by Sliabh gCua and the Bolger Cunningham Irish School of Dance, with the girls emerging victorious. 

The following night the visitors enjoyed a lovely three-course meal, before focusing attention on dancing, music and singing at the Irish Centre. All the dancers from Sliabh gCua and the Bolger Cunningham side wore their costumes. There was a lot of waltzing, then onto the 'Siege of Ennis', followed by the Bolger Cunningham beginner dancers. The Sliabh gCua musicians played a few tunes, followed by Sliabh gCua tutor, Meadhbh Houlihan making her first speech of the weekend.

The Sliabh gCua U12 mixed set then gave a performance followed by a more dances from the Sliabh gCua members and Aoibhe Burke sang ‘Red is the Rose’. 

The Over 18 Mixed Set received a great response, as did the U18 musicians who performed 'The Three Tunes’ while the last dance of the night was the 16-hand reel. A presentation was made to Meadhbh from the Bolger Cunningham School of Irish Dance and then some of the Liverpool dancers took to the dance floor and their performance was followed-up by 'The Walls of Limerick’ and music provided by Michael Coyne and Waterford and Liverpool musicians. The very last item of the night was ‘The Step about’ where every dancer, in ones or twos, danced their own solo step. To end the night, the Bolger Cunningham teachers made an entrance to a huge round of applause.

On Sunday morning, the group left the hotel for the 20 minute walk to the church, and following Mass a group photo was taken outside the church.

The visitors took time out to visit Knowsley Safari Park, to see a variety of animals and the brave dancers among them went on some daring theme park rides. 

That night the final programme of events took place at ‘Mason’s’ where a beautiful meal was had and dancing from both sides along with a few more tunes from the younger and older musicians. There was also a joint music session with Irish and Liverpudlian musicians playing together. There was also a duet from siblings Joseph and Caoimhe Connors, on vocals and guitar, respectively.

Meadhbh Houlihan presented a painting of Dungarvan quayfront to to Kathleen Cunningham. The piece was created by artist Simone McGoldrick, from The Nire. A presentation of a Sliabh gCua top and photo album, put together by Meadhbh and Monnie with pictures from the past trips, was also made.

There was also a presentation of a Waterford GAA jersey to Maureen Morrison, on behalf of the Liverpool Irish Centre. 

The club members wished Maureen all the best in her semi-retirement from the Irish Centre. Following the presentations the last dance of the evening took place. 

The following day the Waterford group began the trip home with everybody looking forward to the next meeting up with their friends from Liverpool.

On the way to the ferry the Waterford group stopped off in James Pringle Weavers shop in the Welsh town of,  LlanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwIIIIantysiliogogogoch, which is the second longest town name in the world.

After catching the boat the group arrived back in Touraneena at 8.30pm, after what everyone agreed was a brilliant weekend.

"The club would like to sincerely thank Kathleen, Maureen and everyone at The Bolger Cunningham School of Irish Dancing for organising and planning such an important weekend," said a spokesperson for the Sliabh gCua Set Dancing Club.

The club also acknowledged Meadhbh Houlihan for her time and effort in planning and teaching numerous dances and for her two great speeches. 

"Thank you to all our dancers, from the youngest to the oldest, who all danced superbly and to some of our younger dancers who brought a smile to our faces," said the spokesperson.

"To our musicians, we were blessed to have some of the best musicians in the country with us, so to Orlaith, Conor, Tomás, Niall, Cian and Joseph, thank you all very much for showing your amazing talents," she added.

Bus driver, Liam Devitt, was also praised for his early morning and the late night pickups. Special mention was also given to Monnie for starting the exchange visits in the first place.

"You could feel the emotion from Meadhbh and Kathleen when they spoke about Monnie," said the spokesperson.