Galway Advertiser 1989/1989_03_23/GA_23031989_E1_001.pdf 

Extracted text

, Galmay Advertiser
T H E W O R L G D A L W D A A Y I N
Girls outnumber boys by 4 - 1 when it comes to Irish dancing, something which is obvious in Leisureland this week, as the World Irish Dancing Championships take place. The colourful and intricate costumes of the girls dominate, and the boys in their kilts and jackets, complete with brooches are definitely in the minority.
In a l l , a l m o s t 4,000 young people from Ireland, Britain, the U.S., Canada and Australia are taking part, and according to the organisers from the Irish Dancing C o m m i s sion, virtually every Irish Dance is being performed. Irish people constitute 40% of participants, a fur ther 40% have c o m e from England, and American, Canadian and Australian competitors m a k e up the final 20%. Families and dancing teachers have ac companied the young peo ple, and the influx of peo ple has increased business both in Salthill and town generally. The Irish Dancing Com mission which organises the World Championships is based in Dublin, and this is the third y e a r that the group has picked Leisureland, mainly because of the size of the hall, and the fact that there are so many f a c i l i t i e s available for visitors to Galway. The Commission has regional organisations in Ireland and in countries w i t h Irish i m m i g r a n t p o p u l a t i o n , and t h e s e regional organisations hold the local champion ships which lead to the World event.

Easter Arrangements
Oar cfTlcs ta OPEN ALL DAY EASTER SATURDAY

Easter at Hani

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A Serious Business
The judges, who also c o m e from many different countries h a v e to undergo e x a m s as well, so Irish d a n c i n g is a business whish is not taken lightly! Martina Redihan of the Dancing Commission agrees that it is expensive for foreign competitors to c o m e to Ireland for the week, but says that en thusiasm o v e r c o m e s all problems, and many peo ple hold fundraising events to help with the costs. The competitors range in age from 9 to 25, and all THE ULTIMATE CHRONOGRAPH

of them have been dancing from a very early age, s o m e start as young as 3 years. Jacinta Moloney from New South Wales is 15 and she has been Irish dancing for 12 years. This is her first time in Ireland, and she qualified for the World championships by winning the State Championships in New South Wales. She is here with her dancing teacher and eight other girls f r o m New South Wales, and is thoroughly enjoying herself. A m o r e local participant is J a m e s Harris f r o m Bohermore who used to be laughed at by his friends when he was younger. Now 16 he has been danc ing since he was 6, and the teasing has finally stop ped. The fact that dancing isn't popular among boys has not deterred him, he takes part in competitons b e c a u s e he likes Irish dancing. L o c a l theatre g r o u p , M a c n a s d e s i g n e d the backdrop for the stage in Leisureland, and it is col ourful, which is in keeping with the o v e r a l l at mosphere of colour and ac tivity. Genevieve Coouey from This will be the case until Sunday when the Waterford, in a beautiful will costume, taking part in the C h a m p i o n s h i p s intermediate Girls compet conclude. Judy Murphy ition on TUesday.

Rebecca Loftus of Highfield holds an Easter chick at the Stephen Pearce Craft Shop. The chickens are part of an imaginative Easter display at the shop w h i c h absolutely delighted Rebecca.
Photo: MK S A' H E S I E H lG N S V

BLEAK

PROSPECTS IN

F O R T H E
demonstrate a far greater sense of urgency and con cern about this whole pro blem. "Much more vigorous representations will have to be made to the U.S.. Government," he added. Mr. Molloy accused the Government of failing to provide any financial backing for welfare organisations representing undocumented Irish in the U.S. He said it was a scandal that the Irish Government refused to help the Irish Immigrant Reform Move ment. "Here is an area where the Government can initiate action. It is high time that they show ed some humanitarian concern and contributed to the expenses of the URM."

Easter

Outfits

IRISH

U . S . - M o l l o y

lovely new SPRING/SUMMER COLOURS now in stock

Irish immigrants in the U.S. stand a better chance of winning the Lottery than getting one of the 20,000 Berman Visas that will become available in the next two years, said Mr. Bobby Molloy T.D. this week.
In a hard-hitting state ment, Deputy Molloy said, " I was astounded to find the Taoiseach claiming on his return from the United States that considerable progress had been made in the situation of the Irish il legals. That he could make such a statement at a time when there is increased pressure on Irish ptanle from U.S. Immigration authorities is simply in credible." the Berman visas had solved the problem, but ac tually, he said, the situa tion l o o k e d far f r o m promising. Mr. Molloy pointed out that the Kennedy-Simpson Bill had failed to pass the last session of Congress and the prospect of it now passing is at least two to three years off. T h e r e were now reckoned to be b e t w e e n eight to ten million applicants from 163 different countries for the 20.000 visas that will be made available.

URGE SELECTION I f SEIKO FN L A D I E S A N D C E N T S

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BLEAK PROSPECTS

F a l t e r s
& w o $ 7 JEWELLERY GIFTS OPTICIAN Wilhaasfti* Strett, Galwaj. OMXBZf.

He said that the pro spects looked quite bleak SENSE OF for the estimated 130,000 URGENCY undocumented Irish in the The Progressive U.S. The Taoiseach appDemocrat T.D. called on peared to think that the Gpvernraent. . to Kennedy-Simpson Bill and Jfeft.

Jeff

OConnell
16-18 S H O P STREET W . 87001