Three’s company with Leanne Carroll, Lauren Guille and Olivia Cheshire (00747253)

HUNDREDS of Islanders turned out to watch traditional Irish dancers compete at the first ever festival of Irish dance in Jersey.

Irish dancing schools from England, Scotland and Ireland competed at the ‘feis’ – a festival of Irish dance, music and culture. The event was organised by the Cannon O’Rafferty School of Irish Dancing and was held at the Royal Jersey Showground in Trinity.

The organisers are now hoping that Jersey will be a firm fixture on the Irish dancing circuit. Dance teacher Katie O’Rafferty said that more than a dozen schools, joined by hundreds of supporters, travelled to the Island for the competition.

The judges were impressed by the standard of dancing, the turn-out and the facilities provided by the hosts.

‘The feis was excellent and ran until midnight,’ said Mrs O’Rafferty. ‘The chairman of the Dublin branch made a lovely speech, even saying that the All-Ireland Dance Championship would be great if it were held here.

‘The visiting schools loved the event, and the Island, and they are all planning to return in bigger numbers next year. The Jersey dancers did us proud and we won quite a few championships against our visitors. There are plans to hold a two-day event next year.’

• Pictures: David Ferguson

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