Makayla Mohrman (left), with her sister, Allyson.
It’s touted as the world’s largest Irish music, song and dance festival, and two SUNY Fredonia students were there.
Allyson and Makayla Mohrman, twins and seniors from Webster, NY, were among dancers from 22 countries that performed in the international Fleadh Cheoil Festival in Wexford.
At the concluding event of the week-long festival held in early August, the Mohrman sisters were asked to join Fusion Fighters for their appearance in a FleadhTV news special for TG4, Ireland’s national television network. Their group, comprised of dancers from six countries, performed live for over 20,000 festival attendees, as well as for some 400,000 viewers from around the world who saw the broadcast.
We plan to take some of the music and different and unique dance moves and apply them to Rince, and potentially use them in future choreography!” - Allyson Mohrman
A variety of street performances that drew large crowds as well as three performances at the Riverbank Hotel on the Quay were also presented by the troupe.
A sense of unity through dance was a key takeaway from the festival experience, Allyson said. “We all met on Monday and created strong bonds and experiences together in such a short time all through dance!” she said.
This marked the Mohrman sisters’ second appearance at the festival and third trip to Ireland.
Back on campus, Allyson, a Childhood Inclusive Education major, and Makayla, who is studying Social Work and has minors in Psychology and Sociology, are members of Rince: Fredonia Irish Dance Club, a club registered with the Collegiate Irish Dance Association.
“We plan to take some of the music and different and unique dance moves and apply them to Rince, and potentially use them in future choreography!” Allyson, president of Rince, added.
The annual Fleadh Cheoil Festival attracts musicians, dancers and performers from around the world for a traditional music celebration. Street performers, intimate concerts, big-name acts and over 150 competitions are featured.
“We didn't have too much time to go sightseeing, but we did get to see an art exhibit in the alley of one of the main streets, the official Fleadh Harp, which moves to each location the festival moves to, the Crescent Quay, and the official mural for the Fleadh,” Allyson said.
