You Should Be Dancing!

Ballydesmond Strictly Come Dancing A Massive Success

Strictly fever hit Ballydesmond when all roads led to The Devon Inn on Saturday 29th March. This was a first-time, unique event for Ballydesmond National School. The aim was to raise funds to develop a Sensory Room on the grounds of the school. A sensory room will provide children with a calming space, away from their classroom. This space can help reduce anxiety and overstimulation by using soothing lights, sounds and textures. 12 couples lit up the dance floor with a wonderful array of dances after 6 weeks of training with creative producer, Joe Burkett. The atmosphere was electric all through the night from beginning to end. The show was opened by MC, Liam Guiney, warming up the dance floor with Lord of the Dance. This was followed by the opening performance of Proud Mary by all 24 dancers, Joe Burkett and dance partner, and event committee member, Bernie O’ Rourke.

Then for the main event! The first couple out were Joan O’ Connor and Andy Murphy dancing the American smooth. Next, we had Margaret Kerins and John O’ Connell dancing the foxtrot. Our third couple was Jackie Kelly

and JJ Buckley dancing the salsa. Then, the samba was danced by Mary Grace Dunlea and Andy McCarthy. Our fifth couple of the night was Marie Griffin and John Brosnan who danced the powerful paso doble. Closing the first act we have Hannah Vaughan and Connie O’ Connor dancing a beautiful waltz.

Our second act opened with a lively jive from Jonah O’ Sullivan and Brendan O’ Leary. Our eight couple of the night was Trish Murphy and Donncha O’ Connor dancing a quickstep. This was followed by the tango from Noreen Linehan and Daniel Crowley. The tenth couple of the night was a musical theatre performance from Elaine Howard and Mike O’ Leary. Noirín Herlihy and Dave O’ Sullivan danced the cha cha and the final couple of the night, Niamh Cronin and Niall Fleming closed the competition with the Charleston. The judges on the night, Brenda Dennehy, Helena Clifford, Johnny Walsh and Michelle Curtin, had the incredibly difficult job of deciding their winner on the night. Noirín Herlihy and Dave O’ Sullivan came out of top for the judges, while Elaine Howard and Mike O’ Leary won the public vote.

Amazingly, over €40,000 was raised through the event and all in Ballydesmond National School wish to extend their sincere thanks to all involved. The organising committee consisted of Anthony O’ Donoghue (Principal), Áine Rohan, Una Howard, Fionnuala O’ Sullivan, Bernie O’ Rourke, Paul Kerins and Ella O’ Sullivan, but there was a whole community of support that made the fundraiser the success that it was.

The men of Ballydesmond’s Strictly Come Dancing Fundraiser. BACK ROW L-R: Andy McCarthy, John Brosnan, Daniel Crowley, Mike O’Leary, John O’Connell, Dave O’Sullivan, Niall Fleming, FRONT ROW: Andy Murphy, Connie O’Connor, JJ Buckley, Brendan O’Leary and Donnacha O’Connor.

The winners on the night; Public Vote winners; Elaine Howard and Mike O’Leary

The winners on the night; Judge’s Vote; Noirín Herlihy and Dave O’Sullivan.

The winners on the night; Judge’s Vote; Noirín Herlihy and Dave O’Sullivan.

The committe who organised the event: Bernie O Rourke, Ella O Sullivan, Una Howard, Fionnuala O Sullivan and Aine Rohan.

The women of Ballydesmond’s Strictly Come Dancing Fundraiser. BACK ROW L-R: Margaret Kerins, Hannah Vaughan, Jackie Kelly, Trish Murphy, Mary Grace Dunlea, Marie Griffin, Elaine Howard, and Jonah O’Sullivan FRONT ROW: Noirín Herlihy, Noreen Lenihan, Neeve Cronin and Joan O’Connor.

Jackie Kelly and JJ Buckley

MC Liam Guiney kept the atmosphere moving with his mic, Choreographer Joe Burkett got the dancers moving and Judges; Johnny Walsh, Brenda Dennehy, Michelle Curtin and Helena Clifford assessed the dancers moving.