Labasheeda is preparing for the 27th Dan Durey Weekend of Set-Dancing to be held in the village from August 16th to the 18th this year.
This annual event which celebrates the man and his dances is one of the longest continuous festivals of its kind and continues to attract dancers from all over the country and abroad to the scenic location on the banks of the Shannon estuary.
The dedicated committee continues to maintain the event with the strong support of the community throughout the weekend. This is a true community effort with many called on to fulfil an endless list of duties to ensure the smooth running of the festival.
This year’s weekend will be opened officially by Noel Devery who has worked tirelessly teaching and preserving the unique stepdances of the Labasheeda area throughout the country. Noel, has worked closely with Michael Tubridy who recorded all of Dan’s dances back in the eighties to ensure that they would not be lost to future generations.
The official opening is on Friday night 16th at 8.30pm with Clare’s finest in the form of the Tulla Céili Band providing the music. Saturday nights céili is with the legendary Shandrum Céili Band while Johnny Reidy and his musicians bring the dancing to an end on Sunday 18th starting at 2.30pm.
Other events include a Pictorial history of Labasheeda and a talk on ‘Connecting Labasheeda by Water’ by Paul Markham and Stephen McDonagh respectively starts at 12.30pm, a Trad Disco for children begins at 3pm all on Saturday.
The annual parade brings colour and fun to the village on Sunday starting at 1pm and an open Seisiún brings events to a close at 5.30pm.
Come along and enjoy the atmosphere in the village for the duration of the festival, relax in ‘The Bed of Silk’.
