manx celtic music and dance

MFDS visit to Carmarthen to link up with Tipyn O Bopeth

03 Jun 2013

Dance for Gwili Railway
Dance for Gwili Railway

Following the visit by Tipyn O Bopeth to the MFDS 60th Anniversary Festival of Folk Dancing in August 2011, thirteen members of the Manx Folk Dance Society travelled to Carmarthen to visit Tipyn O Bopeth on Friday 3rd May. The Welsh Group leader hosted six dancers, with others staying at the Boar’s Head, staying at a farmhouse or using the campsite. That evening both groups met in the Function Room of the Boar’s Head for social dancing.

On Saturday 4th May MFDS met up with some other Welsh Folk Dancers, a small group from the Garth Country Dancers and Sweyn's Eye Morris Dancers at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, where they danced on and off for most of the day, as well as sharing some Welsh and Manx social dances. The weather was kind by being sunny, but the wind was cold. That evening there was a meal at the White Hart Thatched Inn & Brewery, Llanddarog.

There was a relaxed start to Sunday 5th May, then a drive to the Gwili Railway to catch the 1.20pm steam train. Again the weather was fine, and there was the chance for another picnic lunch and some dancing on the station platforms.There was an early start on Monday 6th May with a long minibus drive to Llangadfan, a small village where some of the old traditional Welsh dances are from, where they joined other members of the Welsh Folk Dance Society at a small festival. A group of Breton dancers & musicians from St.Brieuc were also there. This was a very informal event in the Car Park of the Cann Office Hotel, with a lot of social, join-in dances. A small exchange of gifts took place between the Manx & Bretons. Then everyone partook of an excellent carvery meal at the Inn.
In the evening the Manx Dancers took their Hosts for a meal at the Falcon Hotel in Carmarthen.

Most of the Manx Dancers & Musicians went home on Tuesday 7th May, tired but happy after a wonderful dancing weekend with friends. It is hoped that the Welsh dancers will come over to the Island again some time in the future.

Joan Cowell 11.05.2013

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