Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Strictly Scrum Dancing – an exhilarating fundraiser

For the first 92 years of Mullingar Rugby Club’s existence, the concept of the twinkly toe was the holy grail that didn’t quite appear on the weekly basis as required for progress and success.
And even when it did, its aesthetic was sullied with too much muck and sweat to be properly appreciated on an artistic plane.
This seeming deficency, however, was finally put properly to bed in the Grand Ballroom of the Mullingar Park Hotel on Saturday evening last, 21st November, when the light fantastic was well and truly tripped by the glorious cast of “Strictly Scrum Dancing.”

Twenty-seven superb volunteers who practically hoofed their legs off in rigorous preparation over the last three months finally got their deserved moment under lights in what transpired to be the most exhilarating fundraiser witnessed in many a long day.
Under the remarkable tutelage of professional dancer Jan Lindsay, well over 1,000 guests were treated to a delightful melange of street, jive, boogie, waltz and sky-flying that practically endangered the chandeliers such was the air they caught. “If only we could get a crowd like this for one of our matches,” noted one of the 1st XV a tad ruefully.
Backstage before the off, the air was bubbling with giddy nerves and the awaiting dancers were more excitable than the Billy Barry Kids after milling into the red lemonade.
The evening opened with a star turn from two of the judges – Sarah Lennon and Fiona Gallagher – who warmed the paws of all in the room with a rousing vignette from their day job – as dancers with Flately in Lord of the Dance.
One would have thought that this would’ve been a hard act to follow, but fair play to Pete Gibson and Aislinn Layde. They strutted onto the stage as Jake and Elwood rose the roof with the Blues Brothers classic ‘Someone to Love’.
This was quite the eye-opener for your correspondent who, ruined by Sunday evening viewing, expected a much more staid and formal format and this was definitely not that.
Modestly, Aislinn told MC Ollie Turner from Galway Bay FM that she prepared for her turn with “a night in Coppers”, but we didn’t believe it.
Next up was the driving force behind the whole concept – Charlie McGrath – who sauntered in for his pasodoble like a cuddly toreador with his flamenco floozies Anne Fagan and Miriam McManus.
The women fought for his attentions before thinking better of it and discarding him at the end.
Proper order, I say.
Another genre was then displayed with the next pair when Stacy Boland and Roy Connor got all street, and pulled the first 10 of the night from the judges.
Elder statesfolk Benny Shortt and Mick Butler brought a touch of elegance with a Van Morrison waltz, before Sharon Hyland caught the attention in a smouldering number with Kyle Smith.
The next two couples – Robbie Lee and Lorraine Sinnott, and then Danny Purcell and Magda Luczek – looked to outdo each other with the height of lady-flinging achieved, and the 10s were now coming thick and fast.
Martin and Olive Daly – the only married couple in the show – mixed it up again with a bit of rockabilly, before the king and queen of Dominick Street – Smiddy and Siobhan Lynn – put a spell on the room in a maelstrom of tassles and ruffles.
Fresh from his bravery award on foot of his action in a fire, Ross Brunton showed his ease in the heat with a seductive Latin number with Michelle Hahad.
Two more acts graced the stage before the final act when Ray Carolan and Kim Darby absolutely stole the show and brought the house down with the biggest noise of the night as the only couple to achieve the iconic Dirty Dancing lift.
Judge Ursula Keenan encapsulated the mood in the room when referring to the buff Darby-throwing Carolan as having “pecs appeal.” Unsurprisingly, when the public vote was collated it was this final couple announced as the inaugural “Strictly Scrum Dancing” champions.

read_more
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Woohoo! Your subscription has been successful!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

TOP STORIES

MORE STORIES