Typhoid scare wrong-footed dancers’ trip back in 1964

AN outbreak of typhoid in 1964 put paid to the plan by nine teenage Castlebar Irish dancers of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to America, writes Tom Gillespie.

Members of the Redmond School of Irish Dancing had been invited to compete as Irish champions in the huge New York Féis at the end of June.

However, a 46-word cablegram from New York spelled disappointment for the four boys and five girls.

It said their long-awaited trip had been called off because of the widespread epidemic of typhoid in the ‘British Isles’.

The cable came to the home at Balloor, Castlebar, of dance teacher Dot Redmond and her husband Andy.

The communication from John Cashin, secretary of the United Irish Committee, organising the feis, said: "Threat of serious typhoid epidemic in British Isles makes it unwise for school to travel. Strict quarantine imposed on all visitors to the US. Vaccination at entry might cause illness to children, that committee would be unable to care for. Air letter to follow."

The letter, when it arrived some days later, said on a brighter note that the invitation stood good for another year.

The outbreak of typhoid was in the city of Aberdeen in Scotland. The first two cases were identified on May 20 and eventually over 400 cases were diagnosed and the patients were quarantined.

The outbreak was eventually traced to contaminated tinned corned beef from Argentina.

Andy Redmond, who was to travel on the trip with his wife, Dot, said at the time: "Naturally, we are terribly disappointed that the trip, the first of its kind to be made by any Irish dancing group, had to be cancelled. However, we are pleased the organisers in New York are anxious to have us out at another time."

The dancers had already got their health shots when the cable arrived. They were to have spent two weeks at the féis, which attracted 30,000 visitors.

But it was to be another 19 years before Dot and her dancers would arrive in New York.

On that occasion, on the invitation of the Mayo Association in the Big Apple, they took pride of place in leading the Mayo delegation in the St. Patrick’s Day parade down Fifth Avenue on March 17, 1993. They were also guests of honour at the association’s annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner, the year P.J. Conlon from Bohola was president.

However, for several years after the 1964 disappointment the Redmond dancers excelled at festivals through Europe.

In 1965, in particular, one of the most striking features of the visit of the dancers to France for the International Folk Dancing Festival was when Dot was chosen out of eight competing nations to lay a wreath at the French war memorial. A hush fell over the thousands of onlookers when she raised the Tricolour side-by-side with the French national flag.

This was one of the greatest tributes that could have been paid to the Irish nation and the wonderful receptions the dancers received during their 10-day trip.

After getting a great send-off at home, they journeyed from Etival to Allwell, where they were received by the Mayor and his wife and were accorded a civic reception.

The Castlebar group received tumultuous applause each time they danced ‘The Races of Castlebar’, composed especially for the trip by Dot. It was of special significance because of the connection between the 1798 Rising and the French invasion at Killala.

When the Folk Dance Festival officially ended the group and a Scottish girls’ pipe band travelled to St. Marie Aux Mines, where they were again received by the Mayor and his council and were guests at a banquet where they were presented with bronze medallions.

They paraded from the city square headed by the pipe band and gave exhibitions of Irish dancing.

During the festival the Castlebar group were guests of Mon. Jean-Marie Clement, president of the International Folk Dance Society of France.

On their return journey by boat the group were guests of the London Mayoman’s Association at a banquet in the Irish Club.

Returning home, they were met by a motorcade headed by the Castlebar Boys’ Band and were escorted into town, where they were guests at a function in the Travellers Friend Hotel. They were formally welcomed home by Mr. Sean Horkan, chairman, Castlebar Urban District Council, Rev. Fr,. Charles O’Malley, C.C., and other speakers, who paid tribute to Andy and Dot and their multi-talented dancers.

Over the years the Redmond dancers have also toured in Holland, Germany, Spain and Latvia. On each trip pieces of Waterford Glass were always presented to the respective Mayors.

Back in the 1960s all of the travel was by ferry and Andy and Dot took responsibility for the youngsters under their care. They also organised fundraising raffles, etcetera, in the lead up to the trips to defray the cost on the dancers and their families. The dancers stayed with local families in the host cities or in student accommodation which was available during the summer months.

* Read Tom Gillespie's County Town column in our print edition every Tuesday