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Nostalgia: A look back at the Lord Mayor’s Tea Dance over the years

EchoLive.ie, 29 Jan

People from all over Cork who love to dance will take to the floor in

City Hall for what has become a long-running and much-loved

multi-generational event.

Part of the large attendance at the Lord Mayor's Tea Dance at City Hall

in 2007. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

    

Amy Nolan

THE Lord Mayor’s Tea Dance is back this weekend to reunite young and

old across Cork in what is expected to be an “exceptional” evening full

of song and dance.

People from all over Cork who love to dance will take to the floor in

City Hall for what has become a long-running and much-loved

multi-generational event.

Attendees enjoying the Lord Mayor's Tea Dance in 2005. Picture: Maurice

O'Mahony Attendees enjoying the Lord Mayor's Tea Dance in 2005.

Picture: Maurice O'Mahony

Entertainment is provided by the Cork Pops Orchestra, which is

conducted by Evelyn Grant and joined by soloists Keith Hanley, from The

Voice of Ireland, and by six-year-old singing sensation, Emma Sophia.

The Lord Mayor’s Tea Dance is a not-for-profit initiative organised by

a local committee of people from the public, private, and voluntary

sectors and in conjunction with the lord mayor. The committee is

chaired by Dr Andrew Crosbie.

The Lord Mayor's Tea Dance in 2005. Picture: Maurice O'Mahony 2005 The

Lord Mayor's Tea Dance in 2005. Picture: Maurice O'Mahony 2005

Speaking ahead of this year’s event, Lord Mayor of Cork Deirdre Forde

said she is “thrilled to be involved” in what is sure to be an

“exceptional” event.

“It’s for all ages. We want the younger people to come because they

will really enjoy it,” she said.

The Cork Pops Orchestra’s tea dances were devised by Gerry Kelly and

grew from the successful Millennium Tea Dance project for ‘The Young at

Heart’, which took place in Cork City and County in 2000.

Part of the large attendance at the Lord Mayor's Tea Dance at City Hall

in 2014. Picture: Eddie O'Hare 2014 Part of the large attendance at the

Lord Mayor's Tea Dance at City Hall in 2014. Picture: Eddie O'Hare 2014

Photographs and articles of the Lord Mayor’s Tea Dance over the years

exist in abundance in The Echo archives.

An article from 2006 stated that over 1,000 people got into the groove

at the dance in Cork City Hall that year, several of whom were aged in

their 90s.

“Music from all eras, to suit all generations, was performed and Gloria

Gaynor’s I Will Survive was named the theme tune for the occasion,” the

article continued.

Evelyn Grant performing at the Lord Mayor's Tea Dance in 2016. Picture:

Jim Coughlan. Evelyn Grant performing at the Lord Mayor's Tea Dance in

2016. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

The then lord mayor, Deirdre Clune remarked that the dancefloor was

“packed for the afternoon” and those who just wanted to sit back and

enjoy the music “relaxed in the balcony area”.

“Here’s hoping we’ll have many more of them [tea dances] in City Hall

over the coming years,” she added.

The following year, the event returned in what was described as a

unique show “never before witnessed by a Cork audience”.

“The Cork Pops Orchestra brewed up a storm this weekend in City Hall as

rap music was the medium of choice for their tea party event,” an Echo

story from 2007 said.

Pictured in 2007: The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress Cllr Micheal and

Eileen Ahern at the Lord Mayor's Tea Dance at City Hall. Picture: Eddie

O'Hare Pictured in 2007: The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress Cllr Micheal

and Eileen Ahern at the Lord Mayor's Tea Dance at City Hall. Picture:

Eddie O'Hare

That year, revellers of all ages welcomed Cork rapper Garry McCarthy,

also known as GMC.

“Garry is an incredible communicator. We took his words and the

orchestra created melodies to set the tracks to and it turned out to be

an amazing show,” Mr Kelly said at the time.

Following a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lord

Mayor’s Tea Dance will recommence today, taking place from 3pm to

5.30pm.

The orchestra will perform a selection of up-tempo and slower numbers,

with music ranging from Johann Strauss to Abba, where dancers can show

off their skills in waltzes, tangos, two-steps, swing dancing and a bit

of rock ‘n’ roll.

Tickets cost €10. To check availability, contact Pro Musica on Oliver

Plunkett St.

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