By Thomas Corley
The céilí has served as an integral part of Irish social life for hundreds of years, but in recent times, it’s been relegated to Gaeltacht summer camps, or is seen as something only practised by the older generation.
One man is helping to change that. Joe Gray’s ‘Galway Céilí Club’ has gone from strength to strength since its first session in January 2024, with recent events including a ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Céilí’ at Seven Bar and a takeover of Eyre Square on Culture Night.
The idea arose when Joe made note of a céilí in Mayo, which travels between the county’s towns each week. He felt he could bring this to a new audience: “I couldn’t help but notice was there was a real lack of intergenerational participation,” he said. “The age group up there was like 60, 70, and I just felt like that could be balanced a bit better because we thought it was great.”
Joe’s classes often take place in the backs of pubs, typically lasting two hours. An optional social event takes place after, where dancers are free to mingle. The socials normally happen at a pub with live trad music, and attendees are invited to don their dancing shoes once more if the mood strikes them.
Occasionally, classes are themed, complete with extra activities, such as storytelling, costume competitions, and potlucks. Beginners and more experienced dancers are welcomed equally.
The events incorporate a wealth of dances from across the world. Traditional Irish set-dancing is the focus, but aspects of Polish, Spanish, and Portuguese dance are incorporated as well. This is reflected in the diverse crowd the sessions draw. They prove especially popular with those new to the city, searching for a way to break into Irish social circles.
“Galway’s a very international city, and I think that’s why we see the community building around it, people might have felt a little lonely, coming out of lockdown especially, so this gives everyone a chance to meet and hang out afterward.” Joe explained.
Depending on the venue, class size can fluctuate, from a dozen or so dancers, to upwards of a hundred. Large classes offer more of a “spectacle”, while smaller ones give an opportunity to “go in deep and teach different aspects of the dance”.
The idea has spread overseas, with céilí clubs being set up in Madrid, Minnesota, and Leipzig by former dancers. “These are places you wouldn’t expect to see it happening, so to see that it’s had that effect on people, that’s honestly the best feeling ever.”