Four decades of the feis

Nearly four decades after it was first run, Kilcullen Parish Feis was held today in the Community Centre, a faithful fundraiser for the parish needs.

Some 200 dancers took part, ranging in age from two to 20 years, in an event that started at 9.30am. They came from as close as Kilcullen itself and from as far as West Cork.

They competed in various age-related classes in reels, jigs, slip jigs and hornpipes.



Adjudicators were Alison Norney (NI), Jacqueline Curtis, and Linda Sherry, and the music was provided by Declan Devlin, also from the North of Ireland.

"The first year we organised it we made £59," says Elizabeth Landers, whose daughters Jennifer and Mary are long-time dancing teachers. "And last year's one, after all expenses were paid, raised €4,250 for the parish funds."



The Feis started out as one of the events held in the marquee during Kilcullen's annual Carnival, later moved to the JFK Hall, and is now a regular in the Community Centre.

She says there is still a very strong interest in Irish dancing, though as yet not so many of the new estates are highly represented. "Those who danced before they came here are coming in, but I suppose it will take time for new youngsters to get involved."



Local dancers included Eimer Byrne, Jayne O'Brien, Kelly-Anne Ryan, Muireann Fagan and Laura Kennedy.



From further afield came Joseph and Eilis Casey of Abbeyleix and their grandmother Lynne Hinton from Australia.



©2005 kilcullenbridge.blogspot.com as published and individually to the contributors concerned. Email us or phone 086 8267104