|
Scor
Another of the great traditions
of Sliabh gCua is the art and skill of dancing, particularly
'Irish Dancing' and in decades past all kinds of dancing flourished
in the district. Indeed before the 'Ballroom' era, the Halfway
House Hall was a well known dancing venue. At different times
cross road dancing, often using a 'stage' or platform was popular
in many parts of the district.
However Sliabh gCua is best
known for it's Irish dancing which was cultivated by various
teachers, by step dancing competitions at local sports days and
feiseanna and by various enthusiasts such as Padraig O'Finnusa
who included dancing in the Irish evening classes he taught in
the locality in the 1950's and 60's.
But probably the family that
contributed most to the preservation and popularising of Irish
dancing not only in Sliabh gCua but in the wider area of West
Waterford, is the Hallahan family starting with Mairead Bean
Ui Aileachain and continued up to the present through Monnie
Hallahan. Mairead O'Mileadha (as she was known in her earlier
career) was a daughter to Padraig O'Mileadha, Feile na nDeise
and was an active and enthusiastic teacher of dancing and the
violin in the area and she taught the grace and skill of Irish
dancing to hundreds of children and young people over her many
years of dedication to the teaching of dancing.
The foundations she laid were
continued and developed by Monnie Hallahan but the excellence
of their dedication and skill only came to full attention when
Sliabh gCua set dancers won the first of many All Ireland (Scor)
Set Dancing competitions held in Dublin in 1972.
Shortly after the setting up
of 'Scor' (a winter social activity organised by the GAA) Monnie
Hallahan was quick to see these competitions as an ideal outlet
for this traditional talent in the area and with the enthusiastic
support from people like Tommy Hickey, a team which consisted
of Maeve Butler, Margaret Whelan, Michael Hickey and Richard
Hickey entered the first competition in 1971. One year later
the Sliabh gCua set dancers hit the national headlines when after
winning their way through Munster they won their first Senior
All-Ireland competition.
The winning team (which was
fronted on that occasion by musicians Biddy Nugent, Tom Donoghue
and Jim Cliffe) were Breda Hallahan, Peg Dalton, Alice Burke
and Winnie Hallinan dancing with Tommy Hickey, John Kearns, Ned
Burke and Maurice Dalton.
Their success which was the
reward for a tremendous amount of hard work put in by Monnie
Hallahan and the whole group, brought a new enthusiasm for dancing
and the associated social activity to the district and in the
years following.
There were also spin off effects
- a new pride in the culture and tradition of the area, a verification
that where there is love and enthusiasm for what you do, you
can become the best and Sliabh gCua became the best. These wins
uplifted the whole community and gave Sliabh gCua people at home
and abroad a new pride in their locality and this continues to
be the case.
Cairde Sliabh gCua was set
up in Dublin in 1972 as a direct result of the success of the
dancers and for many years was successful in arranging meetings
and social events for Sliabh gCua people living in Dublin.
Just as we now have 'Riverdance'
and 'Lord of the dance' as show stoppers in London and New York,
the Sliabh gCua set dancers led the way in the 1970's and could
stop the show when they stepped it out with the Sliabh gCua Set
and indeed it is not without significance that a young lady from
the district Gillian Norris, granddaughter to Nancy and the late
Paddy Kiely from Sleady currently features as lead dancer in
'Lord of the dance' now packing them in down under in Australia.
The community are and have
reason to be appreciative to the Hallahan family for their role
in bringing dancing in Sliabh gCua to a level of National and
indeed international recognition.
|