History
Míceál Ó Duinn was one of a family of seven, who was born in Upper Ballyfin in August 1883. He devoted his whole life to the promotion of Irish music and dancing. In his young days, his only mode of transport was a pedal cycle which transported him as far away as Spiddal and other parts of the Gaeltacht, where he learned Irish music and also took part in Irish Dancing competitions. He led a long and healthy life, until he passed away on 7th July 1977 at the age of 92 years. In ancient time, the year’s turning was celebrated by numerous festivals. One of the most famous was the festival of Lughnasa, celebrated around the end of July. It was the custom for the people to assemble on a particular mountaintop in their locality to celebrate the festival. Ard Erin in the Sliabh Blooms was on such location where this festival survived in living memory, known locally as “height or fraughan Sunday”. The older generation can still recount with a sense of joy, the traditions associated with the festival. The fraughan or bilberries were traditionally gathered and eaten during the walk to and from Ard Erin.
Articles & comments
- Maura Bonham-Shanahan’s words of appraisal to Mícheál Ó Duinn
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Comment & visitors' song from Dora and Scheol Schimanko
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Miceál Ó Duinn Summer School by Elfi Ackermann
Maura Bonham-Shanahan’s words of appraisal to Mícheál Ó Duinn (August 2, 1998)
“Sixty years ago, my Aunt Kitty, took me to my first dancing class. I was very disruptive, so Mr. Dunne, put me sitting on his overcoat and I fell asleep. May aunt went home without me. From that day, Mr. Dunne became my friend as well as my dancing teacher. He remained a good friend until his death in 1977, the same year in which my husband died.
Encouraged by my father, in 1952, I decided to start my own dancing school. I was a bit apprehensive and nervous, so I consulted with Mr. Dunne, who encouraged me to go ahead saying: “You’ll do well and who knows, one day you may be famous.” I continue to teach all his steps, not only in Laois but all over the world. So, wherever I go, he goes too.
Micheál, A Chara, I wish I could speak to you now, to thank you for the wonderful career you carved for me, as Dance Teacher and Adjudicator. A special thank you on behalf of all the people who were fortunate enough to learn from and love you as I did”
“True grace in motion come form art, not chance,
As those move easiest, who have learned to dance.”
Photos
Andy O'Connell showing Micheal ODuinn's steps
Platform in Killeshin Hill
Our French set-dancing friends, musicians and dancers from Provence attented the festival in 2000 and have lovely photos here.
Comments from Dora and Scheol Schimanko
An elderly couple came all the way from Austria on a motorbike and camped in Castletown. Dora wrote a poem on her experience:
Dear Everybody !
Half-Door Club and all friends, 26th August 2002-09-03
We are safe at home and these are few verses to say Thank you
The Visitors’ song
We rode into Castletown on a fairly sunny day
But then the sun disappeared, as if we’d chased it away
It grew damp and wetter with dew and fog and rain
Everybody wondered – when will there be sunshine again ?
But a true Irish welcome is as warm as the sun
An all the time we spent there we had glorious fun !
Housing around and polkas, hornpipes, jigs and reels
Dora’s dancing slippers were worn through to the heels
The figures of Cashel and the Plain are easy – to forget
But there was always someone there to steer us through the set
So laugh and if you do go wrong, just never never mind
And thanks to Grace, Katarina, Magalie for dancing along
And for making scrumptious teas to keep us going strong
To Andrew, John and Micheal and all the Half-door Club
For all the cosy evenings and music in a pub
For true Irish friendship just steals your heart away
God grant that we shall meet again, somehow, somewhere, someday !
PS : Names strictly aphabetically, apologies for misspellings.
All the best from Dora and Scheol
Miceál Ó Duinn Summer School by Elfi Ackermann, Mössingen, Germany
an article on the setdancingnews website
In the year 2000 I had a short taste of the Merriman Summer School in Lisdoonvarna, which I enjoyed very much. So I dreamed of attending a whole set dancing summer school in 2001.
When I looked on the Internet at Set Dancing News the Miceál Ó Duinn Summer School in Co Laois caught my attention. However, I wanted to make sure it was the right one for me - eleven days at the wrong place can be very long - and searched my Set Dancing News issues to see if there was a report or comment on it. I found nothing, so that's the reason for writing this report.
I followed my first instinct and decided to go to Castletown and stay in the Pastoral Centre. A friend called it an adventure holiday. I had a fantastic time and the eleven days were everything else but long. I was astonished at what a body can manage with the push of the music - all the dancing and late nights.
The Pastoral Centre was the ideal 'headquarters' because everyone could meet and have a cup of tea no matter where they were staying.
I also enjoyed the successful mixture of dancing and sightseeing and it was interesting to experience the different styles of teaching of the range of dance tutors.
Everything during the summer school looked so easy going, but if you looked closer you could see this was the result of the hard work of the organisers. The weather also did its best to make the week so successful. I couldn't believe I'd get all this outdoor dancing in Ireland.
Now I know where Co Laois is, how it's pronounced and where to go next time.
On my arrival Micheál Lalor welcomed me to the smallest festival in Ireland. And indeed it was small. I have no comparison, but if someone doesn't like a big crowd and likes to be off the beaten track in a familiar and personal atmosphere, I can recommend this summer school warmly.
My special thanks to the organisers from the Half-Door Club, to the participants from all over the world who were responsible for the good atmosphere, and of course for Bill Lynch's work without which I would not have discovered this summer school.
Scenes from the Miceál Ó Duinn Summer School at various locations in County Laois. Photographs by Sylviane Pinter and Stéphane Sergent.
