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Irish Dancing - Bournemouth Summer Feis
by John Egan
The popular south coast resort of Bournemouth provided an excellent backdrop yet again for a summer holiday feis.
Now in its fourth year, this Comhdhail feis has gone from strength to strength attracting dancers from England, Scotland and from Ireland. Indeed about 50 per cent of all competitors travelled over from Ireland, with many of them staying for a summer break during their school holidays.
I had forgotten how difficult it can be to find suitable accommodation in Bournemouth when this feis is taking place and had to be satisfied with a late booking in nearby Christchurch.
Dancers however, should not rush out and book accommodation for 2004. This feis will not be held again until 2005. Dancers, particularly from Ireland and Scotland who combine the feis with a holiday, will be disappointed to learn that a decision has been made to hold it biennially in order to ease the overcrowded Comhdhail diary in the south of England.
Organised by Bournemouth-based Dubliner Janet Durham, and ably assisted by her sisters Jean and Anne, who are also dance teachers, and who had travelled over from Dublin with a contingent of 26 dancers from their Hunter School. Janet’s parents Frances and Jim also travelled over from Dublin to help out at the feis, but combine this with a fortnight’s holiday, as they do each year.
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