Keep Her Lit Community Céilí

We are delighted to bring back the Community Céilí facilitated by Louise O’Connor from Lasta Dance, after our first Céilí back in 2023!

The ethos of Lasta Dance is about building community through Irish music and Dance. The word ‘Lasta’ means ‘alight’ or ‘aglow’ in Irish and sums up our passion for keeping the flame of Irish music and dance alight. The word also connects to the ‘glow’ in people’s faces that music and dance can bring.

As before, the Keep Her Lit Céilí is open to complete beginners, improvers and experienced dancers are also most welcome - to dance Ionsaí na hInse, Baile Luimní and loads more! Louise will be calling the sets and will also be teaching a set dancing workshop earlier in the day.

Music for the Céilí will be by The Len Collective. Join us for an evening of craic agus damhsa in Kells Community Hall!

What is a Céilí?

A Céilí is a gathering for Irish traditional music, dance and storytelling. It derives from the Irish word ‘le chéile’ meaning ‘together’. A typical céilí can involve two hand dances, dances in circle or line formations, or in a four partner square as in set dancing.

What is Set Dancing?

Set dancing is a form of social dancing which has been danced in Ireland for about 150 years. Set dances are derived from French Quadrilles and involve four couples dancing in a square. Each ‘set’ has usually between three and six ‘figures’ within it and are often danced to a live céilí band. Famous céilí bands which play for set dancers include the Tulla, Kilfenora or the Shandrum Céilí Band.

Louise is a fiddle player and dancer from County Clare who teaches Sean Nós Dancing, Set Dancing and can be found regularly at the core of festivals and sessions in The Cobblestone, Dublin and along the West Coast, with her fiddle and dancing shoes in tow!

https://louise.ie/lastadance/

This event is part of our Lúnasa Gathering, a day long celebration and gathering to mark the start of harvest season ~ Fáilte roimh chách!

11am - 1pm: Kings River Walk with Maura Brennan

1.30 - 2.30pm: Trad Picnic with The Len Collective

3.30 - 5pm: Set dancing and Dabke dancing workshop with Louise O Connor & Belfast Dabke

5.30-6.30pm: Community Céilí with Louise O Connor & The Len Collective

7 - 9pm - Traditional Music Session @ The Motte and Bailey

Bígí Linn!

SUPPORTED BY THE HERITAGE COUNCIL AND KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL