It was a happy group of 'Rampant Roosters' who met up at Gatwick Airport one Friday in August for the afternoon flight to Dublin. With good reason, several hours later we found ourselves exploring the pub sessions in the seaside town of Bray, just south of Dublin. The 4th Bray International Festival of Dance and Music had started.
The following morning we took part in a 'Grand Parade' through the town, to be followed by dancing sessions throughout the day. I was pleased to see so many many good teams over from England. These included 'Feet First', 'The Britannia Coco-nut Dancers', 'Berkshire Bedlam', 'Carlisle Sword Morris and Clog', 'Knaresborough Mummers', 'Redbornstoke Morris', and 'Perree Bane Manx Folk Group' from the I.O.M. Ireland was represented by our hosts 'Dublin City Morris', 'The North Wicklow Set Dancers' and 'The Durkin School of Irish Dance'.
In the evening we attended a workshop in Ceili and Set dancing prior to the evening Ceili, and during the ceili there was some show spots by the Irish Teams, the Irish dancing performed by the young dancers from 'The Durkin School of Irish Dance' was superb, 'poetry in motion'. I believe somebody once said that about the 'Rampant Roosters' or was 'poultry in motion'.
The following day we were dancing around the seafront and Harbour, finishing off with a Grand Finale in the Bandstand, all in glorious sunshine. The weekend then ended with a good song and music session in the bar of the hotel, with some impromptu dancing on the lawn.
It took a week before all last of the Roosters arrived back at Gatwick. Roosters could be found all over Wicklow, in particular visiting Wicklow Jail and drinking Guinness in Fitzgerald's in Ballykissangel (actually called Avoca). Most of us visited some of the many pubs to be found in the Temple Bar area of Dublin, and ok a look at all the sites which of course included the 'Guinness Brewery'.
A few weeks later we were very pleased to meet up again with John Fry, the Foreman of Dublin City, he was over in England for his parents wedding anniversary and still found time to give up a very good 'Border Workshop', before dashing off for his flight back to Dublin. Well done John.