This article is from page 34 of the 2008-09-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
THE only people that don’t look for- ward to the Dan Furey weekend in Labasheeda are the school children because just as the Rose of Tralee hails the end of the summer holidays, the approach of this set-dancing weekend means a return to school.
For everyone else the first week- end in September has for the last 13 years been known as the Annual Dan Furey Weekend of Set Dancing in Labasheeda.
The fancy dress and float parade take the sting out of the September blues for the children every year and this year promises to be no differ- ele
The parade takes place on Sunday next at 1.30pm followed by an after-
noon céili with Johnny Reidy Céili Band at 3pm.
This year’s Dan Furey’s festival will be officially opened by Mayor of Clare Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) on Friday next at 9.30pm fol- lowed by a céill.
On Saturday the workshops begins Pla Ler-te0
Not surprising, considering the origination of the festival, the first workshop is in set dancing with Mike Mahony followed by step dancing with Michael Tubridy.
At 3pm the céili begins with a com- memorative Mass at 8pm followed lar NON MecI Ee
At 10.30am on Sunday the now traditional visit to James Keane and Dan Furey’s graves will take place followed by the dancing at Kilkerrin
Battery Castle.
A huge crowd is expected for this, not only for the entertainment but because TG4 are recording events for ‘Muintir na Mara’.
The highlight of the festival for many is the parade at 1.30pm with an afternoon and night ceili wrap- O)UeTmbN OMA Lone
Hot meals will be served at St. Ki- eran’s Centre during the festival.
The community centre will also be used for a live screening of the All Ireland Senior Hurling Final between Kilkenny and Waterford.
The popular set dancing festival, the profile of which is raised not just by the hard work of the organising committee but the strong tradition of dancing in the area and the work of Dan Furey and his life long friend
James Keane teaching the Labash- eeda set dances around west Clare.
Since their passing, both Dan Furey and James Keane have become icons for followers of the dancing tradi- tions of the area. They are credited with being the saviours of the tra- ditional dances of Labasheeda. Dan was known far and wide for teaching dancing in the schools of west Clare and latterly came to prominence at WATom ABOU E Com ONE TITCAYAN COUR LAUR
Dan was single-minded in his teaching and dedicated his life to this art form. He was familiar to many in the county not least for his fiddle ac- companiment for the dancers.
Dan and James were firm friends all their lives and Dan learned most of his dances from James’ father Charlie Keane.