Ring of Chiarraighe dancers ready to take the stage
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

PHOTO PROVIDED The Ring of Chiarraighe dancers, pictured above, has been growing since its founding nine years ago.

BATH - When the Ring of Chiarraighe dancers take the stage March 9 as part of the annual Dady Brothers concert, the Irish dance troupe is likely to present the largest number of dancers in its nine year history.

Fifty-four dancers now comprise the group, more than double the number of hoofers originally recruited by Kerry Ferguson, a dance instructor for the Let's Dance dance school in Horseheads.

"It's a select group of dancers," Ferguson told The Courier last week. "They work their way up to getting in the performing group."

Ferguson created the dance troupe after studying traditional Irish dance in Rochester. Chiarraighe, she noted is the Gaellic equivalent of her own first name and is pronounced similarly.

Irish dance, she recalls, "really wasn't that popular at the time. We kind of brought it to the area, and each year it's just gotten bigger."

The group performs traditional celtic dances, in addition to original and Riverdance-style choreography.

The dancers will appear as part of the Bath Rotary Club and Bath Interact Club's annual St. Patrick's Day concert and dinner March 9 at Haverling High School. A dinner of either fried fish or corned beef and cabbage will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. The Dady Brothers concert and Irish dancing will be from 7 to 9 p.m.

The evening will also feature a silent auction, with proceeds to be used in support of the Rotary and Interact Club's community activities. Dozens of items have been donated for the fundraiser; if you like auctions, this is the perfect occasion to go treasure hunting.

Advance tickets for the concert are $12 and $7 for the dinner. Ticket outlets are at the following locations:

Bath

Chemung Canal Trust, Community Bank NA, Steuben Trust Co., Five Star Bank and The Courier- Advocate.

Hammondsport

Community Bank NA and Five Star Bank

Hornell

Steuben Trust Co.

A complete list of auction items appears on page 3.