THE Butler brothers from Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Roscommon stole the show at this year's Feile na nDeise in Dungarvan, Co Waterford. They danced a traditional seannos dance, called the "Brush Dance", and for those gathered in Flynn's Park Hotel last weekend for the ceil i it was a spellbinding occasion.
Ger and Colin Butler, all-Ireland champion set dancers, threw the sweeping brush down on the floor and off they went, better and faster than Michael Flatley, dancing over and back along the brush and swinging together for the finale. It was a rare and magical sight. For Micheal Toibin, of the organising committee, it was breath-taking. He was tired just watching them. The Abbey Ceili Band from Macroom, Co Cork played all night but some only wanted to see the Brush Dance again. For Gillian O'Halloran (12) from Castleknock, it was brilliant. For Shaun O'Halloran, her 11-year-old cousin, the ceili got top marks.
The second biggest draw of the traditional music festival, now in its sixth year, was "the hanging" of William Crotty, highwayman of the Comeraghs. Over 3,000 people spilled into the town's Grattan Square for the re-enactment.
All day and night, music swelled out of open doorways and windows. Dr Richard Casey, sat outside the King John's restaurant owned by his sister, Laurann Fitzgerald, and basked in the sun. Committee chairman and flautist Nicky Power, was spotted at a number of events. The Bean a Leanna pub hosted a bucket singing competition. Well, some may like to sing by putting a bucket over the head - but this did not weave a spell for On The Town.