Hello Cuala Patrons

Looks like there may be some dancing this weekend but before we give the newsletter over to Gerry and the Pacemakers….

  • The Oscars in Hollywood may have grabbed the headlines but the real global glamour event of last weekend was at the Cuala ‘Take me Out’ fundraiser in the previously unheralded (on a world stage) Cuala Hall on Saturday.  Check out a feast for the eye in terms of those who made the night such a roaring success at the Picture Gallery on www.cualagaa.ie and make you you are seated before catching a glimpse of Des Cahill’s sartorially ‘challenged’ compere’s outfit.
  • Congratulations to Oisin Gough and the UCD team who progressed to the semi finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup last Wednesday. That game takes place on Friday.
  • Well done Mark and Paul Schutte, and David Treacy who made winning appearances for the Dublin Senior Hurlers in the win over Offaly in the National League at the weekend.
  • Congratulations to the 2006 Boys who had a great blitz on Saturday and escaped the field of play just before the blizzards hit.  It’s all in the timing, lads.
  • Well done on a hard fought win for the under 16 A footballers against St Annes in blizzard type conditions in Hyde Park on a 2-10 to 2-06 scoreline. Horrible day to play football. Notable performances by Jack Flynn and the ever dependable Jack Lehart, Cian Ushioda and Donal O’Loinsigh.
  • Hard luck to the U15A Footballers who clawed back an eight point deficit to go down by the minimum margin away to St Sylvester’s on Sunday.  Two goals from Ryan De Felice and one from Jack Hartnett almost capped a strong performance.  Daniel Johnson was a star at the back and a late cameo from Mark Tracey almost got them over the line.
  • All players lining out this weekend should now be registered.  If you are not, please give those who are pulling the whole thing together a break and do the decent thing either in person or online.
  • Congratulations to Ciara Mc Keown who was selected for the U16 Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football Panel and wishing them good luck in the 1st round of the U16 Leinster Championship against ‘old rivals’ Meath this Saturday 2nd March 2013.
  • Good luck to all our girls juvenile teams back in action for the first time this season this weekend.  Also to the Boys Hurling teams who have their first round of fixtures.
  • Special word for the  Under 13 (2000s) boys with their first 15-a-side hurling games on Saturday afternoon (home to Lucan and away to St Pats) and important football grading league back matches for both A and B squads in Thomastown on Sunday afternoon. So it’s lots of pasta and early to bed for the lads !
  • The adult hurlers have a club quiz night on Saturday March 9th.  €40 for a table of four, 100 questions on every topic you can imagine and plenty of fun as well.
  • Gaelic for Mothers and Others will be resuming training next week. the aim is to provide mums and friends an opportunity to play Ladies Gaelic Football in a fun, non-competitive, social environment. As well as keeping fit and having a laugh, new members are very welcome, no experience necessary and no need to be a mum either !  For further information please contact Frances Burns on 087 9942389 or email burnsgahan@gmail.com.
  • And now that’s all out of the way, stand back for a last preview report of Saturday’s likely to be inimitable (seriously) Not Strictly Come Dancing Extravaganza.  Over to Gerry Byrne for a breathless final round up…

The countdown is on, the smell of the grease paint is filling the nostrils, the hair is being coiffured, the glam rags are being pressed and I hear the ladies are getting dollied up as well. Pressure is on in the Local Hairdressers and Nail Bars for the 3pm time slot on Saturday, never before have so many needed to rely on the services of so few, at the same time!

The 6th June 1944 was remembered for D Day, the D stood for Day, on the 2nd March 2013 another D Day takes place, the D stands for Dance. The final days to the main event, Not Strictly Dancing, are here and the atmosphere is electric.

Poor Tanis, her nerves are frayed, if the hall is not back in one piece by Monday there will be hell to pay with Derek and the badminton crew. Her partner Eamon is frantically trying to arrange the 1999 B game for Saturday morning so he can get to see the game as well as competing in the evening. Dylan is under huge pressure to attend the adult football training sessions, as he is peaking for Not Strictly and his football coaches are worried he will be exhausted for the 2013 Championship. While his partner Ger has been seen performing the Rumba around the Laboratories of St Michaels.

Donal Murphy has now qualified as a full time dance instructor and is coaching U9, 10, 11 and over 50’s in his spare time, he is driving his partner Mary demented about the right way and wrong way to Chasse across the floor.

Damian took to the bed over the weekend, he said he had a cold but Natasha says he is only resting up.

Lisa and Shane are having sneaky private dance practice at all hours of the morning, I didn’t know people got up that early. Peader says he wants Nuala home to cook his dinner and give up this auld malarkey, while her partner Jimmy is beginning to wonder why he settled in Dalkey in the first place.

Mary and Jack are still as cool as cucumbers and are expected to be the dark horses on the night..

Bláthnaid and John are giving up the day job and will be soon touring with Bruce Forsyth and the other Strictly Dancing Crew. Michael flew in, from God knows where this time, to strut his stuff with Lorraine and is building up his muscles for the big finish. Veronica and Philip have been keeping a low profile  and rumour has it they were last seen with Bruno Tonioli taking private lessons. Barbara is thinking of retiring from the Medical Profession and taking up a career as a fashion consultant specializing in lost causes like the partner she has.

Dayo broke a nail this week during practice but is on the road to recovery and should be able to tog out. His dance partner, Jennifer, is reaching the pinnacle of an intensive training programme which should see her peak on the night of the 9th March, maybe someone should tell her.

If it gets any more tense something will snap.

The Big Band is ready to perform and the Dancers are itching to go. The Cuala Hall is about to be transformed for what is shaping up to be a fantastic evening on the Cuala Family Calendar, you would be crazy to miss it.

Door open at 7.00pm and the Dancers will take to the floor at 8.00pm sharp so don’t be late. Dancing will continue on after the Not Strictly Dancing so bring you own Dancing Shoes.

Some tickets still available from Gerry Byrne at gerrybyrne@biosciences.ie or on 0868241692.

That’s that then.  See you on the dance floor…

Rob Hartnett

Cuala Club Communications