We headed to Blarney today to perform in the grounds of Blarney Castle. Thankfully the weather stayed dry and the crowd started to gather. After the performance the group had a chance to look around the castle and the grounds. After lunch we got back on the bus and headed for Kinsale. In Kinsale the group hopped on the Kinsale Road Train and had a tour of the town and then went up the Charles Fort. We then went back to Carrigaline GAA to have dinner and a chance to chat. At 9pm we all started to learn each others dances and had a brilliant time doing it. When it was time to go home everyone was really tired but that was as a result of having a brilliant night.
Die Spelewei started the day with a tour of the Jameson distillery in Midleton at 10:30. After the much anticipated whiskey tasting at the end of the tour, the group performed two dances in the reception area for the people waiting for the next tour. They then headed to Cobh for lunch in the Commodore Hotel. Making the most of the sunny weather they spent the next four hours around Cobh. They returned to Carrigaline GAA for food and fun. Everyone learned dances from Flanders, Britanny, Greece, Ireland and Norway.
The group arrived at Carrigaline GAA all fresh and ready to go. They then went to Westagte Foundation in Ballincollig to perform in the day care centre. The clients in the day care centre thoroughly enjoyed the performance and were keen to learn the culture and the history of the costumes. After lunch in Westagate they returned to Carrigaline GAA. The arrival of a television crew to the GAA sent everyone into a tizzy-they were really excited to be on national television. That evening after having eaten they took part in a concert in the Carrigaline Court Hotel were everyone really enjoyed the concert. After another long day they all returned to their host families
Die Spelewei joinedAstour, the group from Rennes in Brittany, in Cork city on Wedneday morning. Bothgroups performed on the footpath by Opera Lane and invited members of the public to join in the dancing. This proved to be very popular and photos were taken for a number of newspapers. They returned to the Carrigaline Court Hotel for lunch before heading down to the GAA. A camera crew from RTÉ and TG4 were present to film some of their dances. After more food in the GAA they changed into their costumes in readiness for the concert in the hotel at 8pm. Die Spelewei performed for twenty minutes at the end of the concert and the crowd thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Greek group called Naoussa Paros arrived in Cork Airport @ 7:40pm on Tuesday, having left home on Monday @ 7:30am. They missed the official launch as a result of the flight times but were able to go to the welcome party in the Cork International Airport Hotel. The group were exhausted from the travelling but still enjoyed the dancing and meeting the other groups. They were then introduced to their host families and went home for a well needed rest.
Die Spelewei, a dance group from Westerloo in Flanders in Belgium arrived into Dublin airport at 11am on Tuesday. After a long bus journey to Carrigaline they were fed in the Cogans’ house, where 32 people enjoyed irish stew from one big pot. Seven members changed into costumes to represent the group at the official launch of DamhsaFest in the Clarion Hotel. Afterwards they joined the other groups at a welcome party in the Cork International Airport Hotel, where everybody learned dances from the other countries.
Groups of colourful folk dancers will be coming to Cork during the week 21st to 25th July 2010 for the annual Damhsafest, International Folk Dacne Festival. Dancers will be performing at Opera Lane, Cork City, daily at 11.30 am.
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