APH
by Paddy Ryan (December 1991)
Source: Fás Teamwork Scheme (1990-1992)
Sponsored by Athenry Project Society.
Teamwork Leader: Mrs. Marie Fahy
Siamsa Blá’n Riogh was founded in 1975 by Sr. Nuala Courtney, Presentation Convent and Meave Rooney, Vocational School, under the
banner of Conradh na Gaeilge. The aim of the organization was to promote and foster the Irish language, music and céilí dancing.
However, there was more emphasis on the dancing. Sessions were held bi-weekly on Wednesday nights in Paynes Hall. This was really a family night out as it was attended by teenagers and their parents.
Music was always supplied voluntarily with musicians coming from as far away as Loughrea, Corofin, Oranmore, Craughwell and Athenry. So keen and interested were they that on a few occasions there were no fewer than twenty seven present. Music and dancing started at 8.30 p.m. and finished at 11.30 p.m.
There was no official dancing teacher, the steps were taught by anybody who knew them. The main dances were the Half-Set, Stack-of-Barley, Hay Makers Jig, Berlin Polka, Fling, Shoe-the-Donkey, Siege of Ennis, Bridge of Athlone, Barn Dance and Old Time Waltz. Many of the members afterwards won awards in different dancing competitions.
Tea and biscuits were always served during a short interval, which gave the people an opportunity to chat and meet each other. To cover the cost of this and pay for the hall people made a voluntary subscription into a box.
Still on the dancing scene, one item that Siamsa can be proud of is the step-dancing class, which they organized. For one reason or another all previous classes only lasted a very short period so Siamsa were determined to overcome this pit-fall. After some enquiries and deliberation it was decided to start classes on Saturdays. However, there were a few conditions to be adhered to:
Pupils had to be over 6 years
Parents could not interrupt the class to speak to the teacher
Two members supervised each day and even collected the fees for the teacher who was Miss Maureen Cunniffe, now Mrs. Maureen Daly.
Siamsa Athenry
Secretary: Geraldine Tully
Chairman: Paddy Ryan
If you are interested in Traditional Irish Music and dancing, or would like to learn, then you should visit Paynes Hall on a Thursday night and really enjoy yourself at Siamsa.
Last year was again most successful. The Float and its contingent of musicians, dancers and traditional crafts won first prizes in Dunmore Festival, Athenry St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Seven Springs Festival Competition held at the Ceile. Junior Chamber presented a beautiful Perpetual Cup for this, and the business people of the Parish sponsored all the other prizes.
Siamsa is paving the way for its future dancers, as two members of the Committee supervise the step dancing classes for children held in the Community Hall every Saturday.
When Siamsa became extinct Maureen, thank God, continued with the classes and has brought several all Ireland awards to Athenry. Long may she continue the good work.
On the cultural side Siamsa were very successful in the Athenry St. Patrick’s Day Parade with their float depicting a traditional Irish thatched cottage. On the first attempt in the parade a tractor and trailer with musicians and dancers on it took first part. The Committee was spurred with this success and the following year got an articulated lorry from King’s Warehouse and thatched half of it and fitted the kitchen with all the traditional means including fire place with crane, pots, ovens and pans.
Some of the ladies mixed dough for baking bread, while others did the washing on the wash board. Others did the churning, making cream into butter. Of course, the spinning wheel was in action making wool into thread for knitting.
While all this was in progress the musicians lashed out the music and the dancers took to the floor.
On the other half of the lorry there were men at work, drawing straw to make thatch, pointing scallops, again used for thatching, using the spade to sow, making waxed ends or “Ruinin” to repair boots.
This won the over all section locally on numerous occasions and also won the over all at festivals in Galway, Gort, Loughrea and Dunmore on several occasions.
Siamsa Athenry Group were a Big Hit
Connaught Tribune, 23rd March 1979
Siamsóirí Blá’n Riogh (Athenry Siamsa Group) has really awakened their local town. On St. Patrick’s Day they were awarded first prize in the Organisations Section for their entry in the Athenry parade.
On Monday they took part in the Galway parade in the Traditional Culture section for city and country and were awarded first prize. Mr. Mike Davis, Chairman of Galway Junior Chamber, presented them with the Perpetual Cup, an inscribed commemoration plate of Clarinbridge Crystal Glass and a sizeable cheque. Their entry was comprised of an Irish Thatched Cottage complete with fully equipped cooking facilities on an open hearth fire.
Thousand of onlookers applauded the standard of Ceili music and dancing presented and also for the other items of interest on the float, which included carding and spinning of wool, butter making and preparation of thatching material
Mr. Charlie King made his lorry available on both occasions.
Many people say it is a pity that all this is past tense now. Yes, it is, but people must remember that to achieve success there was also pain and hardship. For many nights and into the early hours of the morning in the bitter cold of the March frosts and winds the Committee worked to thatch and prepare the float.
Sadlly, all good things come to an end and so did Siamsa. However, many of their members continue to exercise their talents in the field of song, dance “ceoil agus craic”.
