last updated 6 May 2008
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Workshops and ceilis in Britain

Copyright © 2008 Bill Lynch
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Workshops and ceilis in Britain

Set Dancing by the Sea, Norbreck Castle Hotel, Queen's Promenade, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY2 9AA

9-11 May 2008, £149

This weekend of dancing is based at the traditional English seaside resort of Blackpool, with it's beach, tower, illuminations and amusements appealing to tourists. However, with workshops by Gerard Butler and ceilis with the Lough Ree Ceili Band, you won't need to leave the hotel ballroom this weekend for a good time. Ger teaches during the day on Saturday and Sunday and ceilis are nightly from Friday through Sunday. The package includes entertainment and three nights of shared accommodation, breakfasts and evening meals. Contact Steve Lynch.

Workshop, Birmingham Irish Club, 14-20 High Street, Deritend, Birmingham B12

17-18 May 2008, £25

Timmy McCarthy teaches Cork and Kerry sets at this weekend of workshops. Danny Webster is visiting to play for ceilis on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Contact John and Sharon Holian.

St Andrew's Church Hall, Colyton, Devon

18 May 2008, 1.45-4.45pm, £2

Monthly dance session on the third Sunday today. Contact Maggie Danieltea served

Future dates: 15 June 2008

St Boniface Social Club, 185 Mitcham Road, Tooting, London SW17

18 May 2008, 2.30-5.30pm, £5

Sets, ceili and old time with music by Dealga Trad. Contact Moira Dempsey.

Leintwardine Village Hall, High Street, Leintwardine, Shropshire, SY7 0LX

18 May 2008, 1-4pm, £4.50

Dancing on the third Sunday to recorded music. Contact Pete Mawtea served

Pope John Centre, The Green, Heston Road, Heston, Middlesex

30 May 2007, 8.30pm, £5

Dealga Trad plays for this ceili. Contact Moira Dempsey.

Also on: 18 July with Matt Cunningham, 21 November 2008

Workshop weekend, Halsway Manor, Crowcombe, Taunton, Somerset

30 May-1 June 2008, £149

After two November set dancing weekends in Halsway Manor, the organisers have moved their third weekend to June for better weather. The venue is a traditional dance centre based in a beautiful Tudor mansion with a lounge bar, library, terraced lawns and scenic views. West country teacher Maggie Daniel leads the workshops and Pendragon led by John Dudley is the resident band. The price includes dancing, on-site B&B and full board. Contact Ken Lamport.

London Irish Centre, 52 Camden Square, London NW1

1 June 2008, 12-4.30pm

Geoff's First Sunday is a popular afternoon session of ceili, two-hands, waltzes, jive and plenty of sets danced to recorded music. Contact Geoff Holland.

Also on: 3 August, 7 September, 5 October, 2 November, 7 December 2008

Sets in Somerset, Village Hall, Dinder, Wells, Somerset

1 June 2008, 11am-5.30pm, £6

A day of dancing with a morning workshop from 11am to 1pm taught by local teachers, a lunchtime session and an afternoon ceili from 2.30 to 5.30pm with live music by Eight Foot Four. Bring lunch for a picnic in the orchard, weather permitting. Contact Paul Harper.

Future dates: 7 September, 5 October, 2 November, 7 December 2008

Slough Irish Centre, Sheehy Way, The Frith, Slough, Berkshire

8 June 2008, 2pm

A charity ceili with Dealga Trad. Contact Pat O'Sullivan.

Also on: 16 November 2008

South London Irish Centre, 140 Hartfield Road, Wimbledon, London

13 June 2008, 8.30pm

A ceili with Dealga Trad. Contact Margaret Morrin.

More dancing: 20 July (2pm) with Matt Cunningham, 10 October, 28 November 2008

Summer Set Dance, Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, Camden, London NW1

15 June 2008, 5-10pm, £5

A charity event beginning on an outdoor platform and moving indoors as the evening progresses. Bring a picnic. Contact Tom Kelleher.

Old Basing Village Hall, The Street, Old Basing, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 8AR

21 June 2008, 8pm-12am

Tony Kearney plays for this ceili as part of Basingstoke Irish Society Festival Weekend. Contact Kevin Monaghan.

St Joseph's Social Club, Empire Way, Wembley, Middlesex

27 June 2008, 8.30pm

A charity ceili with Dealga Trad. Contact Pat O'Sullivan.

Also on: 21 December 2008, 8pm

Birmingham Irish Club, 14-20 High Street, Deritend, Birmingham B12

3 July 2008, 8.30pm-12am

Micheál Sexton and Pat Walsh play for a ceili tonight on their way to London for the weekend. Contact George Hook.

Southwark Irish Festival, Peckham Rye Park, London SE15

4-6 July 2008

Micheál Sexton and Pat Walsh are playing for three ceilis in the London area in connection with the Southwark Irish Festival -

Friday  8pm-12am  St Thomas Moore Hall, 116A Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London SE22 
Saturday  8pm-12am  Services and Social Club, Springfield Lane, High Street, Weybridge, Surrey 
Sunday  1.30-6.30pm  Peckham Rye Park, Peckham, London SE15 

The Sunday ceili takes place outdoors in the Trad Marquee at Southwark Irish Festival with calling by Tomás O'Dea. Contact Anne Mullen.

Services and Social Club, Springfield Lane, High Street, Weybridge, Surrey

5 July 2008  Micheál Sexton and Pat Walsh
26 July 2008  end of term party with Tony Kearney

Dancing begins at 8.30pm. Contact Rita O'Halloran.

Irish Festival Weekend, Pontins Holiday Park, Pakefield, London Road, Kessingland, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 7PF

18-21 July 2008, £159

An Irish festival of country and traditional music at a holiday park facing the North Sea on the easternmost point of Britain. The lineup of entertainment includes set dancing workshops by Pádraig and Róisín McEneany and ceilis on Saturday and Sunday nights - please confirm band. The price includes entertainment, shared chalet accommodation and full board. Contact Steve Lynch.

Matt Cunningham's Tour of England

18-26 July 2008

Matt Cunningham's summer tour of England brings him to venues all over the country -

18 July 2008  8.30pm, £8  Pope John Centre, The Green, Heston Road, Heston, Middlesex  Moira Dempsey
19 July 2008    Braintree Community Centre, Victoria Street, Braintree, Essex 
20 July 2008  2pm  South London Irish Centre, 140 Hartfield Road, Wimbledon, London  Margaret Morrin
21 July 2008    Queen Mary's College, Cliddesden Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 3HF  Kevin Monaghan
22 July 2008  8.30pm  St Kentigerns Parochial Hall, Hart Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 7DW  Barbara Aherne
23 July 2008    Bolton Irish Centre, Lever Street, Bolton, Lancashire 
24 July 2008    Servite Parish Centre, Cavendish Road, Prestwich, Manchester 7 
25 July 2008  8pm-12am  Goodyear Pavilion, Stafford Road, Wolverhampton  Mona Dingley, Bridget Chambers
26 July 2008    Brian Boru Club, 55 Bryn St, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Lancashire 

For more information contact the people listed above or Matt himself.

Workshop weekend, Birmingham Irish Club, 14-20 High Street, Deritend, Birmingham B12

29-31 August 2008

Pádraig and Róisín McEneany lead workshops and the Copperplate Ceili Band provide music at this charity weekend. Dancing starts at the ceili on Friday night from 8.30pm to 12.30am. On Saturday workshops are from 10.30am to 4.30pm and the ceili that night is from 8.30pm to 12.30am. The Sunday workshop runs from 11am to 1pm and the final ceili from 2 to 5pm. Contact George Hook.

The George Pub, Woolley Street, Bradford on Avon, Somerset

24 September 2008, 7.30pm

A monthly live music and dancing session. In the first hour Val Knight provides instruction for beginners, then the full session begins at 8.30pm.

Also on: 29 October, 26 November, 17 December 2008

Workshop weekend, Birmingham Irish Club, 14-20 High Street, Deritend, Birmingham B12

4-5 October 2008, £22

The fifth annual workshop with Pat Murphy, who holds workshops on Saturday, 10.30am-5pm, and Sunday, 11.30am-1.30pm. The Ivy Leaf Ceili Band plays on Saturday night from 8.30pm, and again on Sunday from 2.30-5.30pm. Contact John and Sharon Holian.

St Albans Irish Centre, Cotlandswick, London Colney, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 1DW

10 October 2008, 8.30pm-12am

Dancing to Tony Kearney. Contact Tracey Mullen.

Sean Dempsey Set Dance Festival, Irish World Heritage Centre, 10 Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester 8

24-27 October 2008

Manchester's big weekend of competitions and ceilis features music by the Copperplate and Five Counties ceili bands. The ceilis are at 8.30pm each night from Friday through Monday. Saturday's ceili is in the Longfield Suite, Longfield Centre, Rectory Lane, Prestwich, M25, and competitions begin at 10am on Saturday. Contact Colman Murtagh, Anne Cahill and Barbara Aherne.

Return to Camden Town, London Irish Centre, 52 Camden Square, London NW1

24 October-2 November 2008

Return to Camden Town is a ten-day celebration of Irish music, song and dance in the inner London district of Camden which was once the home of many Irish immigrants. The festival offers a full programme of sessions, concerts and music classes, and also includes ceilis and dance workshops. The festival is based at the London Irish Centre which was the city's first such centre and has been operating for over fifty years.

Gerard Butler visits on the first weekend, 25-26 October, to host workshops on Saturday morning and afternoon and on Sunday morning. The Davey Ceili Band is also here for ceilis on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Playing on Tuesday evening is the McNamara Ceili Band featuring Karen Ryan, Gary Connolly, Kathy Walton and Pete Quinn. More workshops and ceilis are planned for Saturday and Sunday, 1-2 November.

Contact Terry O'Donnell.

Derby Irish Centre, 11 Becket Street, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 1HT

25 October 2008, 8.30pm, £5

A ceili with music by the Reel Note Ceili Band. Contact Eamonn Murray and John Gallaghertea served

St Thomas More Hall, 116A Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London SE22

1 November 2008, 8.30pm

Dealga Trad play for this ceili. Contact Della Reilly.

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Bill Lynch   Set Dancing News, Kilfenora, Co Clare, Ireland
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