Special céilí night in Milltown

THE achievements and contribution to Irish traditional group dancing by of one of Fermanagh’s most well-known musicians, Dinny Leonard and St Joseph’s Céilí Band, was recognised and honoured by the Ballyhugh Céilí Club on Friday night.

The band played in Ballyhugh many times over the years, going back over thirty years, and the members are from all over the Border counties.

The event took place before a capacity crowd at a Fior Céilí in Milltown Community Centre.

Irish Céilí Dance is the traditional group dancing native to Ireland, first taught by tradition - an incredibly important cultural treasure.

Marian Bradley has been teaching the generations old dances, handed down through the years, thus bringing them back to life at her weekly classes in Ballyhugh Cultural Centre, Ballyconnell, for the past three decades.

Dinny Leonard, an accomplished fiddle player, founded St Joseph’s Céilí Band over 40 years ago to play for and promote Fior Céilí. The band is recognised by Comhaltas and Céilí groups on both sides of the Border for their outstanding commitment to Irish traditional music and dancing.

Thomas Mc Dermott, Fear an Ti, Killeshandra, congratulated Dinny and his band on their achievements and their ongoing support of Fior Céilí Dancing.

Marian Bradley Ballyhugh Cultural Centre said they have made an immeasurable contribution to music and dancing, not just in Fermanagh, but further afield for decades.

She recalled Dinny and fellow musicians coming to play at her Céilís in Ballyhugh Cultural Centre, thirty years ago, free of charge to help establish and promote traditional dance in west Cavan and they have retained close links in the intervening years.

They were delighted to be involved in making presentations of a specially commissioned carved fiddle to Dinny and an engraved Tree of Life Belleek Vase to the band.