Pittsfield — Happy St. Patrick’s Day! On Friday, March 14, in the Pittsfield City Hall Council Chambers, Pittsfield Irish Sister City Committee member Francis Curley joined Mayor Peter M. Marchetti in welcoming Jennie Darby and her Scoil Rince Bréifne Ó Ruairc dancers with musical group Gaellica, as well as special guests from Ireland including accomplished dance teacher and choreographer Sheila Moffatt with 10 dancers from her Moffatt School of Irish Dance, for a short program of Irish music and dance. This program was part of a welcoming and gift exchange with a contingent from Ballina, Ireland, including Ballina Mayor Michael Loftus, and is one many performances these special young dancers have scheduled.
First up, our local Scoil Rince Bréifne Ó Ruairc dancers, dressed in sharp black outfits ornamented with bold colors, started with a quaint performances of Mountain Dew featuring Evelyn Rathbun, 15; Rose Garrison, 16; Maris Darby, 14; Lana Darby, 10; Grace Pickering, 14; and Emma Proskin, 10, and these six young ladies really impressed with fine figures and vigorous step dancing, and when they finished, a roaring ovation ensued, led mostly by the guest Irish dancers from the Moffatt School! A larger group of dancers subsequently came on to perform “Rattlin’ Bog”; the dancers were: Sarena Tucker, 8; Hannah DeGraff, 7; James Patton, 9; Kelan Wildermuth, 11; Laurelyn Wildermuth, 9; Mia Pickering, 6; Pepin Wildermuth, 7; Clare Pickering, 8; Aibhlinn Quinones Johnson, 10; Braeden Wildermuth, 13; Owen Rathbun, 12; and Seraphina Sanislo, 10. These 12 young performers danced with spirit and enthusiasm and were very well received by the assembled crowd.
Next up, the guests from Ireland, the Moffatt School dancers, the girls with beautiful yet simple outfits of either dark green or red. They performed three lively dance routines and showed their class with superb technique and beautiful figures to the delight of all. The room was not big, and the crowd was not big; the only thing big was their performance, as these Irish dancers kicked and tapped and twirled to a raucous ovation and cheers, well appreciated.
It was a glorious morning full of good music and dance, brotherhood and sisterhood, gift exchanges, mirth, and merry. All good things to kick off the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday!
