Thousands are expected to flock to west Clare for the annual festival of music and dancing during the Willie Clancy celebrations from 3-12 July. The decision last year to promote country dancing alongside the traditional music sessions and céilís was a resounding success and the organisers are delighted to feature a similar venture this year.

The Armada Hotel in Spanish Point will be very much at the heart of the festivities and they have a massive variety of entertainment lined up for patrons. The 10-day programme of set dancing sessions and country music coincides with Willie Clancy Week in nearby Miltown Malbay, the hometown of the late and famous piper.

“Each year we have seen Ireland’s largest traditional music summer school and our festival grows in popularity and we look forward to once again playing our part in showcasing the traditional heritage of both Miltown Malbay and Spanish Point to thousands of people from all over Ireland and abroad,” says Frank Minogue, general manager of the Armada.

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The ocean marquee on the grounds of the Armada Hotel will host many of the country dancing sessions. Local Clare men, PJ Murrihy and Micheál Sexton, will open proceedings in the marquee during all seven nights of the Keep It Country series from 5-11 July. Dancing gets underway each night at 9.30pm.

Headline acts for the 2015 festival include Michael English, Paddy O’Brien, Philomena Begley, Trudi Lalor and Kathy Durkin.

There will be jive and quickstep workshops in the marquee from 12pm to 2pm each afternoon.

“The country dancing has taken off in a big way and we are expecting fine crowds each night,” says Fiona Buckley-Kitt.

“The festival now caters for the set dancers and the country dancers and there is a huge buzz throughout the region for the duration of the Willie Clancy Festival. We are expecting attendance figures to surpass the estimated 5,000 who came here last year.

“For the first time, the festival features a Festival Club which will run each evening from 6 to 10 July. There are also the fireside sessions in Johnny Burke’s Pub and late night music in The Ocean Bar.”

Céilí dancers will be entertained throughout the festival with appearances by Star of Munster, Brian Ború, The Five Counties, Rise The Dust, as well as the Johnny Reidy, Abbey, Ken Kelleher, Striolán, Swallows Tail, Salamanca, and the Deenagh Céilí Bands. There are also loads of workshops and other traditional events in Miltown Malbay and Spanish Point. Maybe we should offer our readers the advice given by PJ Murrihy in his song The Music and The County Clare, which was recorded by Declan Nerney: “Go north for spuds, and south for a wife, but for music go to the county Clare.”

Further details relating to the Festival of Music and Dancing during Willie Clancy Week at the Armada Hotel (Spanish Point, 3-12 July) are available from www.armadahotel.com, 065-7079000, or at info@armadahotel.com.