Make way for the dancing queensand kings
Brace yourself. The 19th hole has been a hive of activity in Castlebar in the last few weeks. There was Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Then came Torvill and Dean. And now there is Martin and Mary, Gary and Ann, John and Pauline, Paul and Cora, Joe and Theresa, Michael and Dympna, Paraic and Deirdre and Iofa and David.
It's all strictly above board as Castlebar Golf Club embarks on major fundraising drive in the form of a Strictly Come Dancing fundraiser.
If you pass the clubhouse any time over the next few weeks you are bound to hear the tapping of feet as choreographer Jason Guthrie puts some of the finest dancers to have graced this earth through their paces.
The biggest problem for Jason was selecting the final eight pairings as I understood the queue for the auditions stretched from the golf club door back to MacHale Road.
“All I can say is give me the Panto any time as selecting the contestants was a nightmare such was talent that was available, but I think we came up with the best at the end of the day,” he said.
The following couples are in their second week of rehearsals and here are their allocated dances: Ann Melvin and Gary Wynne (don’t drop her Gary, I need her back in one piece) will dance the Cha Cha Cha; Dympna Smyth and Fish Cunningham are tackling the Tango, which seems made for Dymna’s delicate little feet; Pauline O’Donoghue and John Mitchell have perfected the Charleston; Mary Fox and Martin Newcombe do the Foxtrot (mind your toes Mary with Martin - I lost two and that was playing basketball against him); Cora Mulroy and Paul Kilcourse seem just made for the Salsa; Teresa Mannion and Joey McDonnell do the Paso Dobla; Deirdre Moylette and Padraic Corrigan dance a waltz; and Iofa and David Gallagher do the jive.
As a build up to the final in March, the Melvine will be giving you a progress report on each couple as they prepare for the final.
Fundraising activities will be held over the next few weeks by participating couples and winners on the night will be rated on their dance expertise as well as funds raised with Mayo Roscommon Hospice, one of the beneficiaries along with the Castlebar Golf Club.
The eight couples will show us what they've got when they face the audience in the final on March 28 in the TF Royal Hotel and Theatre. Don't miss it.