When Éadaoin Delaney was a teenager, she responded to a call-out looking for volunteers to help run a céilí at The Lough in the summer months.

A mere 25 years later, you can still find Éadaoin, along with a whole team of volunteer dancers and musicians, at The Lough every Wednesday evening from the end of June until just before the kids go back to school.

They guide novice dancers through the steps of iconic dances like The Siege Of Ennis, The WallsOf Limerick, and Shoe The Donkey at what could be Ireland’s most pleasant open-air céilí.

It was Lough local Tony McCarthy, a former All-Ireland champion dancer, who, on his daily laps, had the brainwave that the paved area near the Hawthorn Bar would make a great spot for a bit of dancing.

He roped in some local musicians to play the tunes and on the first night he got passers-by to stop and take part. It worked!

Céilí Cois Locha has grown organically over the years - shifting from Sundays to Wednesdays, expanding the paved dance area, and upgrading from an extension lead run through the trees at The Hawthorn to council-provided power.

Céilí Cois Locha is now a microcosm and celebration of modern Ireland - an intergenerational community event with Irish music and dance enjoyed by a crowd of all colours and creeds.

Young or old, everyone is moved by the music (and........

© Evening Echo