At the end of this month, from Wednesday 20^th to Sunday 24^th February, one of Ireland’s major cultural events will take place in Killarney: The Gathering, traditional music festival. Now in its ninth year, the festival keeps growing and attracts visitors not only from Ireland but from all over the world, mainly coming from America and Europe.

All lovers of Irish traditional music and Irish dances meet there every year to share their common passion but also to spend a great time with each others. From morning to late in the night, you will find the best of Irish entertainment there. So why not joining the thousands of traditional music fans to experience the legendary Irish “Craic”?

During the day, musicians can attend instruments workshops (Fiddle, Accordeon, Concertina, Flute and Tin Whistle) while the dancers will have their own workshops with Set-dancing classes for children, beginners and advanced “steppers”. The highlights will be of course the Céilís every night, and the concerts, among them Pauline Scanlon and her Band, Lúnasa and Máirtín O’Connor. There will be also late-night music sessions and an all-day singing master-class. And if you want to make a break from all of that effervescence, join the guided walk into the Killarney National Park, or just stroll into Killarney town where you can find a wide choice of shops, restaurants and pubs. Staying overnight won’t be a problem as they are many hotels, B&Bs and self-catering in Killarney or around. But be sure to book in advance for that special event. See you there!

You may wonder what these two things may have in common – well 2 things actually – firstly they are both great passions of mine and secondly and possibly more importantly as far as you’re concerned they are 2 things that in this very modern and changing Ireland have not changed very much at all.

Let’s take Irish Dancing first of all. And I don’t mean the Irish dancing that conjures up visions of little girls in traditional costumes and goldilocks ringlets. What I’m talking about is Set Dancing which is a completely different thing altogether.

Long ago if you were going on a date in Ireland, if he wasn’t bringing you to the pictures he’d be bringing you to a dance. Now ‘a dance’ might bring to mind ladies in ball gowns dancing sedately, but in Ireland a dance was quite a different thing! So much so that they were never held without the parish priest patrolling the hall to make sure things didn’t go too far (you’ll be glad to hear this is one tradition that has died out!)

If you’ve ever seen a set you’ll know that it’s a formation dance made up of four couples not unlike a square dance, just pick up the speed about 10 fold and add in some ribald traditional Irish music. And if you’re wondering about the priest let me just explain that you have to get fairly up close and personal when you’re lepping around the floor at high speed.

After a couple of sets you might take a break to do a ceili dance such as the Haymakers Jig or the Seige of Ennis. These dances were popular as they involved a lot of partner swapping so if you positioned yourself right you might get to dance with the object of your affection even if you hadn’t had the gumption to ask her to the dance and had only gotten as far as making eyes at her across the floor.

Half way through the night a cup of tea and some cakes and sandwiches would be served by the ladies of the parish to keep the strength up. And you’ll still be treated to these refreshments at any ceili to this very day!

So if you’d like to experience the delights of ‘a dance’ as it might have been fifty or sixty years ago in Ireland just ask your Ireland guide if they can include a rural ceili dance on your itinerary.

What about the GAA you ask (as you well might after reading Paul’s blog below – as well as the heated debate taking place in the comments!)? Well check back soon and I’ll tell you all about it!