Mayo memories: Dancers floored with cancellation of US trip in 1964
By Tom Gillespie
IN June 1964 a typhoid scare in Britain put paid to a trip to New York for nine members of the Redmond Academy of Irish Dancing in Castlebar.
The group, four boys and five girls, were due to fly out to the US on Friday, June 14, when a 46-word telegram (pictured below) arrived on Thursday, the day before they were due to travel, shattering their dreams.
The cable came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Redmond at Balloor, Castlebar, from John Cashin, secretary of the United Irish Committee.
It read: “Threat of serious typhoid outbreak in British Isles makes it unwise for school to travel. Strict quarantine imposed on all visitors to America. Vaccination at entry point might cause illness to children that committee would be unable to care for. Air letter to follow.”
The troupe was going to New York, as guests of the United Irish Committees, to give exhibitions of Irish dancing, sponsored by the New York Feis Committee.
During their two-week stay they were to give a number of public appearances, including one at the Irish stand at the World’s Fair.
Mr. Andy Redmond, director of the school, and his wife, Dot, who were to accompany the dancers, said: “Naturally, we are terribly disappointed that the trip, the first of its kind to be made by an Irish dancing group, had to be cancelled.
“But we have now received confirmation of an invitation to visit New York next year (1965).”
However, that trip did not materialise either and it was a further 29 years (1993) before the Redmond School finally took New York by storm.
They travelled 3,000 miles, experienced unprecedented blizzard conditions and torrential rain - all for 60 seconds of fame. But it was worth the trip for the 27 young dancers (pictured).
They jetted to New York to participate in the 1993 St. Patrick’s Day parade along 5th Avenue.
And they were honoured by being allowed to dance for Cardinal John O’Connor in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, after which Dot Redmond presented a piece of Waterford glass to the cardinal.
The one-minute dancing slot had been arranged by the Mayo Society in the Big Apple who had issued the invitation to Dot Redmond, the director of the dancing academy, to participate in the March 17 celebrations.
The party were greeted at JF Kennedy Airport by members of the Mayo Society and together with the chairman of Mayo County Council, Sean McEvoy and his wife Vera, county secretary Padraig Hughes and councillors Martin J. O’Toole and Michael Ring, were accorded a reception in a VIP room at the airport.
The president of the Mayo Society, Attorney Sean Grogan from Attymass, Ballina, welcomed the group and Mr. McEvoy responded on behalf of the group.
Friends of the troupe included P.J. Conlon from Bohola, Aiden O’Hora, Kiltimagh, Tom Bourke, Breaffy, Castlebar, Jimmy Horahoe, Roscommon, John Garvey, Ballina, and Pat Connolly, Kerry.
The dancers' first performance took place at the 11th annual St. Patrick’s Ball and dinner dance of the Mayo Society of New York at the Crystal Palace where 700 Mayo people gathered to celebrate our feast day.
The trip to the US was an outstanding success where each and every one of the youngsters acted as supreme ambassadors for Mayo and their native towns and villages.
Those who took part in the trip were: Dot Redmond, Tom and Mavourneen Gillespie, Patricia and Lar Morahan, Teresa McDonnell, Kathleen McHale, Tom Shiel and Ronan Courell (all Castlebar), Mick and May Smyth, Straide, Maureen Kenny, Ballyvary, Billy and Geraldine Mullen, Westport, Dympna Bourke, Breaffy, Marian McDermott, Castlebar, Padraic and Lucy Walsh, Ballyvary, Moyra McCallick, Claremorris, Josephine Molloy, Claremorris, Mary Glynn, Ballyglass, Kay Curry, Westport, Tony O’Keefe, Westport, Mary Kenny, Westport, Eileen Pierce, Castlebar, and Eileen Doherty, Straide.
The dancers were Ineke Gillespie, Keith and Tanya Morahan, Tara McDonnell, Enda McHale, Elaine and Tara McDermott, all Castlebar, Deirdre Kenny, Ballyvary, Michelle Doherty, Straide, Evan McCallick, Claremorris, Sandra Mullen, Westport, Toni Burke, Breaffy, Orla Curry, Westport, Paula and Sheila Glynn, Ballyglass, Mandy Walsh, Ballyvary, Sinead Kenny, Westport, Eimear Mulloy, Claremorris, Caroline Walsh, Ballyvary, Orla Waldron, Claremorris, Aoife Smyth, Straide, Michael Smyth, Straide, Sharon Flatley, Foxford, Tom Walsh, Ballyvary, Johann Pierce, Castlebar, Aoife O’Keefe, Westport, and Dervilla Barrett, Foxford.