Dance

Villierstown’s Irish Dance History

Villierstown has a long history of Irish Dancing.  Mrs. Hallahan, mother of local dancemaster Monnie Hallahan, began teaching classes in the old Schoolhouse in 1952.  Classes moved to the I.C.A. Hall in 1962 and were supervised by Villierstown’s I.C.A. members Bridget Hackett, Phylis Poyner and Rita Ronayne.  A great debt of gratitude is owed to Rita who for more than 60 years recruited new dancers at the beginning of each term, kept the books in order, looked after the hall, lit the fires each night, and fitted out the children in costumes for feiseanna and Scór.  On Mrs. Hallahans retirement, the classes were taken over by Mrs. Phylis O’Halloran, and later by the Dee Family.