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Belfast Joins Worldwide Commonwealth Ceilidh

13 June 2014

The Commonwealth Ceilidh is part of a 24 hour global ceilidh event to celebrate Scottish dance and culture as a lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. People of Belfast can join the worldwide celebrations on Saturday 21st June at the Belfast Commonwealth Ceilidh which is taking place in Belfast City Hall’s Great Hall from 7.30pm (doors open at 7.00pm). The event is being hosted by the High Sheriff of Belfast, Lydia Patterson and supported by the Ulster-Scots Agency.

The Commonwealth Ceilidh will begin with events in New Zealand at 7.30pm local time; the next events will begin two hours later in Australia, then in Japan and onwards, with the dancing beginning at 7.30pm in Scotland and around the UK and Ireland, 12 hours after the Ceilidh started.  The Commonwealth Ceilidh will then continue over to the Americas and organisers are aiming for the final event to take place in Hawaii 24 hours after the first ceilidh call was made.

    

Dancing in the Commonwealth Ceilidh is an easy, enjoyable and sociable way to share in the celebrations of Ulster-Scots culture and heritage. 15 dances, including three specially devised ones, can be enjoyed by everyone and learned beforehand in a free download (www.getscotlanddancing.org/dance-videos).

 

Ulster-Scots Chief Executive said: “The Commonwealth Ceilidh is a brilliant opportunity for people to get involved with the spirit of the Glasgow 2014 Games and to experience some Ulster-Scots culture.  Scottish Ceilidh dancing is fun and easy to learn and includes many dances like the Lancers and the Gay Gordons which are known to people throughout Ulster”.

 

High Sheriff, Lydia Patterson said: “I am delighted to host this fantastic event at the City Hall, which is part of the Commonwealth games Cultural Programme.  The people of Belfast have a great affinity with the people of Glasgow through our shared Ulster-Scots heritage and it is great that we can get involved and support them in such an important year for their city”.

 

Entry to the Belfast Commonwealth Ceilidh is free and the event is open to everyone.  Don’t worry if you have never attended a Scottish Ceilidh before as members of the Royal Scottish Country Dance  Society’s Belfast Branch we be on hand to offer support and a ‘caller’ will accompany the Alistair Scott Ceilidh Band on the night to talk you through the dance steps.  Light refreshments will be served during the interval.

 

To receive your free Belfast Commonwealth Ceilidh tickets contact the Ulster-Scots Agency by emailing info@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk or telephone (028) 9023 1113.

 

Come along and join us on Saturday 21st June for a fantastic evening of Ceilidh music, dancing and fun!