Rinceoirí ar Leac-na-h-Uaighe
Written by Pat Joe Dennehy
Blíanta Blíanta, siar i bhfad roimh an raidió, teilifís agus na telefoin pócaí, is é an caitheamh aimsire is mó a bhí ag na daoine ná rince. Rincí tithe a bhí coitianta an am sin. Do bhí tigh speisiálta i ngach bhaile fearainn beagnach, ina raibh clú agus cáil ag na rinceoirí air, agus nuair a bhí rince eagraithe ag muintir an tigh sin, scalp an focal ar fiúd an cheantair. Ar lúas an am sin, bhí na rinceoirí ana mhórálach ina gcuid rince, bhí comortaisí idir na ceantair éagsula, agus do réir atá ráite na duaiseanna a bhí ann, ná gé, péire bhróga, mála prátaí, agus mar sin de. Ach bhí na rinceoirí i ndairíre, mar dhein grúpa amháin beart nach raibh déanta riamh ná ó shin, chun a chruthú leis na daoine cé comh maith is a bhíodar. Dheineadar ríl, seit agus corn phíopa ar Leac-na-h-Uaighe i reilg Cill-Tóm Leac-Snámha sé broig ináirde san aer. Tá an reilg agus an túama ann fós, ach tá na rinceoirí ar shlí na fírinne anois. Seachtar den h-Ochtar curtha san reilg sin, ceann amháin, Maigh Dennehy, curtha i reilg Mucrais i gCill Áirne, áit ina raibh sí ag maireachtaint i ndiaidh a phósadh le Jerome Corkery Tábhairneoir. Tá a mhac agus a gar pháistí ina bheatha fós i mbun an tábhairne céanna a bhí aici blianta fada ó shin. Níl focal ar bith faoi aon cheoltóir, bfhéidir gur ceol bhéil a bhí ag na rinceoirí sin, mar bhí an rince agus ceol bhéil ar lámh a céile an am sin.
Na Rinceoirí:
William & Julia Dowling Kiltomey (Brother and Sister).
Tom & Mary Bowler Kiltomey (Husband and Wife)
Mick & Maigh Dennehy Deerpark & Bushmount (First Cousins)
Tom Sheehy Lixnaw Village
Maggie Foley Ballinclogher
Go dtuga Dia ceol binn na bhflaithis ar a n-anamacha úaisle.
Years ago long before Radio, television or mobile phones, the favourite pastime of the people was dancing. House dances were common place at that time. There was a special house in almost every townland in Ireland, especially in North Kerry where dancing was taken seriously. Whenever a dance was arranged in that special house the news was spread rapidly by word of mouth.
The dancers at that time had great pride in their own ability, and often held competitions with other groups of dancers to prove who were the champions which led to the above mentioned group doing something, which had never been done before or since, dancing on top a tombstone in Kiltomey graveyard just to prove they were the champions.
The North Kerry Reel, Set and Hornpipe was the favourite dance at that time, and to see eight adults perform those dances on top a tombstone which at most would measure four feet by eight must have been inspiring. Seven of those people are now buried in that graveyard, with Maigh Dennehy buried in Muckross Killarney. There is no mention of any musician playing music, maybe at that time it was lilting, because the dancing was very often spontaneous and lilting and dancing went hand in hand.
All these people were my neighbours, two were relatives and I don’t think they ever realised how high they set the bar.
Tá ganntanas a leithéidí ann anois.
2017
