Community News
Castlemagner GAA Strictly Comes Dancing
Castlemagner GAA held its most ambitious fund raising event ever on the 25th March 2023. The Strictly Castlemagner fundraising event has been months in the planning by it’s hard working committee. The objectives of the fundraising event are to develop an astroturf training facility and further developments on the grounds of the GAA club. On Saturday 25th March the mass exodus from Castlemagner to Charleville started early in the morning with participants down at the Charleville Park Hotel for hair, make up and rehersals. By early evening the atmosphere in the hotel was ramping up as family and friends started to arrive. Before 7pm queues started forming for patrons to get their seats in the function room and by the time proceedings kicked off shortly after 8pm the place was electric. Keith Hanley former winner of the Voice of Ireland was MC on the night and he managed the event like an old pro. Every couple were interviewed on stage after they performed and Keith’s relaxed style helped put some nerves at ease. Chairman of Castlemagner GAA club Thomas Lenihan opened the event by welcoming everybody while expressing the gratitude of the club to the dancers, choreographer, the many sponsors and the members
Jessica Lynes and Kevin O Leary fully focused on their steps 16
of the organising committee. Thomas acknowledged the work by other groups in the community, encouraging everyone to become involved in the ongoing works in “making Castlemagner a better place to live”. What followed for the next three hours was the best entertainment you could possibly ask for. A total of twelve couples took to the dancefloor on the night and it has to be said that each and Claudia and Denis O Donoghue giving it 100% every one of them put on what turned out to be an on stage in Charleville absolutely sensational dedication to the cause shown by show for the near 900 patrons all participants over the last 10 or 12 packed into the hotel function room. weeks was unbelievable. The sheer The five judges Mags O’Riordan, joy on the faces of all who took to Mags Nugent, Aideen McAuliffe, the stage was unreal. Castlemagner Noeleen Moylan and Thomas Tobin GAA are most grateful to all of them were astounded by the high level for making such a commitment of talent on display. Choreographer in their lives to help the club with Miriam Ball put the contestants this fundraising event and to the through their paces over the past public and sponsors who gave so few months and it really paid off as generously towards this fundraiser. they performed a range of dance The ‘Public Vote’ winners receiving routines on the night. the most public votes on the night Claudia and Denis O Donoghue were Tracy Fitzgerald and Conor giving it 100% on stage in Charleville Murphy. The
Michelle Gayer and Aaron O Keeffe on stage at Strictly Castlemagner in The Charleville Park Hotel DiscoverDuhallow@irdduhallow.com
Issue 86 April 7th, 2023