Dance rivalry heats up in Athboy ahead of grand finale

Some 24 dancers will perform for the Clann na nGael GAA club in 'Strictly Come Dancing - The Grand Finale' on 14th October in the Mullingar Park Hotel.

Some 24 carpenters, teachers, hairdressers, students, post office workers, insurance managers, school caretakers, county football players and electricians are busy strutting their stuff in Athboy in a bid to earn some cash for the local GAA club in Athboy and Ráth Chairn.

The Clann na nGael club has been months planning the huge fundraiser for 2011, and presents 'Strictly Come Dancing - The Grand Finale' on 14th October in the Mullingar Park Hotel. The dancers - all amateurs - have been practising since July.

At the Meet the Dancers night in the Old Darnley Lodge Hotel in August, they found out who their dream partner would be and who they will be dancing with in the grand finale. Since then, the dancers have been busy practising twice weekly, perfecting their fancy footwork. The group dance will see the 24 taking to the stage and performing a highly energetic, complex group piece in front of the audience.

Dancers include Bláithnaid Keogh and Mark Hanily, Rianna Kelly and Ciaran Fitzsimons, Matthew Mullen and Niamh Collins, Deirdre McLoughlin and Eugene Smyth, Brighid O'Sullivan and Martin McGovern, Christina Canny and Oliver Gilsenan, Brenda Rice and Anthony Foy, Fidelis Cullen and Seamus Farnan, Breda Flanagan and Will Baker, Niamh Seoighe and Shane McAnarney, Maureen McCaul and Aaron Ennis, Paraic McGuinness and Tina Growney (pictured).

The couples will dance the Cha Cha, Jive, Waltz, Quickstep, American Smooth, Samba, Rock n Roll, Paso Doble, Salsa, Swing and Foxtrot. Competition will be fierce and all dancers are out to be the best. Some have been meeting up in secret and under the cover of darkness to ensure they get as much practice in as possible. Others are calm, cool and confident and have taken to the dance floor like ducks to water.

The celebrity judges, Graham Geraghty, Oisin McConville and Mary McEvoy, together with Sharon from Kinetix Dance Company, will score each couple's performance. However, it is the audience who will cast the deciding vote by voting for their preferred Strictly Come Dancing King and Queen 2011.

Tickets are €15 and doors open at 7.30pm. Bus tickets can also be purchased for €5 return and buses will leave at 7pm sharp from McElhinney's car park for Mullingar. Pre-booking is essential.

The event is ticket only, and tickets may be bought from any dancer, committee member or in Flood's Bar, Athboy.