Mayo memories: Irish dancers conquered France in 1965
By Tom Gillespie
SIXTY years ago, in 1965, the late renowned Irish dancing teacher Dot Redmond, from Castlebar, was given the honour of laying a wreath at a French memorial when she travelled to the continent with a troop of dancers to participate in an international folk dancing festival.
She was selected out of eight competing nations to lay the wreath. 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 reception which the famous Castlebar group received during their 10-day visit to France was highly cherished by the dancers.
After getting a great send-off in their home town, the group of dancers, headed by Dot and her husband Andy, journeyed from Etival to Allwell, where they were received by the mayor and his wife and were accorded a civic reception. Later they were introduced to the leaders of the groups from the eight nations taking part by a French radio announcer.
The festival of dancing commenced at 9 p.m. and each group made two appearances. The programme was repeated on Saturday and Sunday nights. During the day the group were taken on a tour of places of interest and on Saturday night the programme was televised.
On Monday they travelled to Luneville and took part in a huge parade with the eight nation groups. The festival in this city was held in the courtyard of a castle which, from an architectural point of view, layout and spacious, had to be seen to be believed.
Following the programme they were guests at a candlelight banquet in the castle and the leaders of each group received presentations of silver plaques and a doll dressed in replicas of the uniforms of the castle guardians.
When the folk festival officially ended the Castlebar group and a Scottish girls’ pipe band travelled to St. Marie Aux Mines, where they were received by the mayor and his council and were guests at a banquet.
Here 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 group were guests of Mon. Jean-Marie Clement, president of the Folk Dance Society of France.
The Castlebar group received tumultuous applause each time they danced the ‘Races of Castlebar’, which was composed by Dot Redmond. It was of special significance because of its association with the 1798 Rising and the French landing at Killala.
Before setting out on the return journey the group were given an opportunity of seeing the wonders of Paris. Among the places they visited was the Church of Sacre Coeur at the top of Monmarte. This magnificent church was built in 1871 and was described by the members of the group as ‘simply wonderful’. The group next visited the world famous Notre Dame Cathedral.
On their return journey the group were guests of the London Mayomen’s Association at a banquet at the Irish Club and during the function they gave an exhibition of Irish dancing.
Returning to their native town they were met by a motorcade headed by the Castlebar boys’ band and were escorted into the town, where they were guests at the Travellers Friend Hotel.
They were formally welcomed home by Mr. Sean Horkan, chairman of Castlebar Urban Council (UDC), Rev. Fr. Charles O’Malley, C.C., Mr. J.J. Walsh and other speakers who paid many tributes to the group and to Dot and Andy Redmond.
The French trip was a huge undertaking as the group had to travel by boat to England and across the channel to France. Sole responsibility for the young dancers fell on the heads of Dot and Andy, the only adults in the group.
In 1963 Dot and Andy Redmond brought another group of dancers to an international folk dance festival in Mons, Belgium, where they were highly successful.
In 1966 they represented Ireland at an international folk dancing festival in La Forte Bernard in France. They were accompanied by three members of the Culleens (Ballina) pipe band.
On arrival they were accorded a civic reception by the mayor, Mr. Paul Chapron, president of the Folk Dancing Festival of Europe
The Castlebar group consisted of Bridie Griffin, Maura Marrinan, Mavourneen Redmond, Eileen Golden, Patricia Redmond, Mary McGreal, Mindszenty Lyons, James Quinn, William Scott, Michael Griffin, Andy Redmond jnr. and Pat Bolger, Westport. The members of the Culleens pipe band were Ann Bourke, Phil McGarren and Phil Lynn.
On their journey through London, on the way to France, the group were present at the inaugural meeting of the Castlebar and District Association of London.
On return to Castlebar they were formally welcomed home by Mr. Jack Cahill, chairman, UDC, town clerk Mr. J.J. Smyth, town engineer Mr. Albie Malone and Councillor Willie Cresham.