Next time
TESTIMONIALS.
Sleepless in Castletown
Pat Murphy at the Half Door club set dance and traditional Irish music festival Castletown Tradfest
Mark at the Half Door club set dance and traditional Irish music festival Castletown Tradfest
Manon at the Half Door club set dance and traditional Irish music festival Castletown Tradfest
Japaneses at the Half Door club set dance and traditional Irish music festival Castletown Tradfest
Gerry at the Half Door club set dance and traditional Irish music festival Castletown Tradfest
Andrea at the Half-Door club set dance and traditional Irish music festival, Castletown Tradfest
The Festival.
The Half-Door Club international Music and Dance Festival is a four-day event of set dancing and traditional music in Castletown, Co. Laois. There are 5 ceilithe and 3 workshops and sessions throughout.
Here are some photos & articles, comments or tribute from our friends about the festival
Our song.
Andrew singing in sean nos style:
History.
The man responsible for the name of our club is none other than the late inimitable set-dancing master, Connie Ryan. We have to go back to March 1993, when Connie and Betty McCoy were doing a weekend workshop in Newcastle West. Two cars arrived for the céilí that night from County Laois. John Sinnott was just moving into his ancestral traditional cottage where his grandfather was born. One of the lads mentioned to Connie about the half-door of the house where they would meet regularly. (Photo : Connie Ryan teaching in Cape May)
During the céilí and on other occasions, Connie would be heard to say: “Oh! Here come the Half-Door Boys again” and so the name stuck.
Location.
At the Castletown Community Centre, Laois
We are 1h30 from Shannon and 1h00 from Dublin on the N7 if you are coming by plane. There is a bus every hour to Mountrath or Portlaoise. The nearest train station is Portlaoise.
Check for coaches from Shannon and Dublin airports
Posts.
The Half-Door Club for it’s 27th year of Castletown Trad Fest.
21 January 2023
Date: Friday April 28th to Monday May 1st 2023 Address: -Céilí Venue- Community Centre, River Bank, Castletown, Co. Laois, R32 F624 &...Read More
The May Bank Festival, 2019 edition
14 October 2018
The bands who will play for us this year were: – Tulla Céilí Band – Shandrum Céilí Band – Swallow’s Tail Céilí Band – Abbey Céilí Band – J...Read More
The May Bank Festival, 2018 edition
25 November 2017
A big thank you for all who played, danced and visited our festival!!! The bands who played for us this year were: – Brian Ború Céilí Band – Shandrum Céilí Band – Swallow’s Tai...Read More