Welcome to the 'City of Dublin Championships 2007' Feature
www.cityofdublinchamps.com
We Hope You
Enjoy
Our
Feis Feature
Shauna Tighe - Sylvan Kelly S.D
Co Mayo &
Ryan Stevenson - McCutcheon S.D. Glasgow
Junior City of Dublin Plate
City of Dublin Championships 2007
Saturday 10th March
The Magnificent 'Carlton Hotel' located at Dublin Airport was the venue for all Beginner and Intermediate dancers on Saturday. With 3 floors running 'non stop' in the Ballroom and 2 floors busy with dancers on the 3rd floor in the 'Clouds Room'.
It was encouraging to see so many dancers in attendance and to see so many happy faces throughout the day. A little touch of America was also a theme of this amazing feis with many new ideas being introduced. It was fantastic to be able to sit back, in between competitions, in luxurious surroundings, and catch up with all the latest in Irish Dancing.
Feis organisers, Kevin and Ronan McCormack should be congratulated for bringing this Feis to Dublin and also on having such excellent organisational skills as all details were of such a high standard.
The Adudicators certainly had a tough job on their hands as I've never seen as many beginner and intermediate dancers at any feis before. The saying ' Coming out of the woodwork' springs to mind as the graded dancers were in the hundreds.
This was certainly an International Event with dancers & visitors attending from Ireland, UK, Northern Ireland, America and Australia.....continued......
continued....
All medals and trophies came with the City of Dublin logo which was a theme throughout the event. No expense was spared on this the Inaugural Feis with beautiful Trophies being handed out for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place in the Trophy competitions.
The Feis ran like clockwork on the Saturday finishing early evening. As soon as the hall was cleared of dancers, preparations started getting the venue ready for the day ahead on Sunday.
A special meal on Saturday evening was attended by invited guest to celebrate the 'City of Dublin Feis' Honorees, Muiread Gray who won the World Championship 7 times and Imelda Florence who also won the World a staggering 6 times. It was such a lovely evening with the Honorees teachers, Mary McElroy ADCRG & Marie Duffy ADCRG in attendance with both teachers telling everyone lovely stories on each of the dancers background. Both Honorees received a beautiful gift from Kevin and Ronan as well as being presented with a bouquet of flowers from their teachers.
London
Winner of the Girls 14 - 15 Champ'
Marie Duffy ADCRG
&
Mary McElroy ADCRG
Waiting to Present the flowers
Marie Duffy
Muiread Gray
Muiread began dancing at the age of 6 with Inis Ealga under the tutelage of Ms. Marie Duffy and Maitiu O Maoileidigh. She won her first All Ireland title within four years and went on to win seven more All Ireland titles from 1976 to 1985. In addition Muiread won seven World Championship titles from 1976 to 1985. In 1984 Muiread won the senior ladies world championship at her first attempt and went on to retain the title in 1985.
At the tender age of 21, Muiread hung up her dancing shoes to concentrate on her third level studies where she was studying for a language degree. Irish dancing ran through the Gray blood as both Muiread's sisters, Frieda and Marea also won several All Ireland and World Championship titles. Muiread currently lives in Dublin with her husband and her two young children. She is a national school teacher and now enjoys teaching Irish Dancing to her pupils
Imelda Florence
Imelda began dancing at the tender age of 6 in 1963. She attended the Marie Walsh school of dancing and her first lesson took place in the Carlton Hall, Marino. Marie must have spotted that she had some kind of talent because she asked her parents if they would consider taking her to her house for private lessons. These lessons took place in Marie's front room in Clontarf!
Later Marie moved house and her lessons with Imelda took place in her front room in her new home in Coolock. Later her lessons progressed to a building in her back garden!
Imelda won her first World Championship title in 1971 and went on to win a further 5 titles in 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976 & 1977. After winning these titles along with seven All Ireland titles, Imelda retired from dancing.
The Celebration Dinner in the 'Clouds Room' of the Carlton Airport Hotel with Feis Organiser, Ronan McCormack (Centre) telling everyone the background of the Feis Honorees....
Muiread Gray & Imelda Florence
A wonderful evening was had by all!!!
Page 2 will shortly be available with all the details of the 'City of Dublin Championships' for Sunday 11th March.
Please take a look at the many photogalleries from this Inaugural Feis....Link at the top of this page
www.professionalfeispromotions.co.uk