Year 2025 Awards and Recognition

We ended our Winter/Spring semester with a bang! Toni polished our skills with a Paris set refresher so we could be ready for it at the End of Year Ceili. Kate announced the awards for special achievements from our 2025 membership year. Many members contributed to the continued success of the Ring of Kerry Irish Dancers over the year. A few of them were highlighted at our last class.

Kate emcee'd the session, starting with our appreciation of Toni for her inspiring work on preparing for and then delivering engaging class instruction. We took on and learned some tough dances this year, such as the Claddagh, Paris and Moycullen sets.

Then it was time to recognize the organizational contributions of Connie. She has been on the RKIDs Board of Directors for several years. Among other special club activities that benefit the RKIDs, she initiated the Book Club Tea Parties and took on the busy and detail-oriented role of End of Year Ceili Food Coordinator. Gotta keep the dancers fed!

Next up was an appreciation of another Board member, Chuck, recognized for his outstanding assistance in the creation and production of the RKIDs’ postcard and trifold pamphlet, with additional help in our publicity and member recruitment efforts.

There were two other certificates presented in the absence of the awardees. One was for Board member Gina for her work in providing the dance class name tags; ensuring that health and safety needs are met; and supporting the provision of music equipment in our dance class. Dick was also recognized for his design work as well as his significant involvement in producing the RKIDs’ publicity postcard and trifold pamphlet.

There was a special mention and recognition of Linda, who has regularly kept the class energized by her supplying us with large containers of yummy cookies. There typically are none left by the end of class.

As is our tradition following the final class a bunch of us repaired to the Dogfish Alehouse in Gaithersburg to celebrate the end of the two semesters. We were mainly and happily nourished with ales (of course) and platters of nachos among other items. Present were Linda (of cookies fame), Marie V., Connie, Kathy O, David M., Obie, Michelle, newly-retired Brian, Marilyn O, Roger, Maddy, Bill, Kate, Dan O'C., and newlyweds Robin and Emmett. Congrats to the newlyweds and to all of us for a great year of dancing and socializing!

End of Class Year Ceili

The two semesters of dance classes for 2025 ended, of course, with a grand dance!  Forty people came to the ceili. Caller and RKIDs member Marilyn Moore expertly led us through the dances, which were powered by top-notch musicians Joe DeZarn, Tina Eck and Jesse Winch.

The dancers kicked up a storm on the wooden floor of the Sandy Spring Friends' Lyceum. Dan C. and Connie, along with newlyweds Emmett and Robin showed their stuff in the Haymakers' Jig.

 

A big dance like this needs a big, dedicated, hustling support crew. Food Coordinator Connie was the mastermind of the event setup, aided by numerous contributors, including but not limited to John, Kate, Obie, Marilyn O., Roger, Dan C., Michelle, Emmett, Maddy, Bill and Marie V. Admissions were smoothly handled by Kathy with help from David M. Gina, who is recovering from knee surgery, brought a stand to elevate the 48-cup hot water maker for coffee and tea — which was nearly completely depleted by the end of the event. There were several folks, such as Christine and Carole, who didn't come to dance, but primarily listened to the lively music and socialized. Marilyn O. kept them entertained with games such as Mexican Train.

After the vigorous dancing ended, we restored the Lyceum to its original state, recuperated and looked back fondly on the ceili. RKIDs-sponsored dancing takes a pause while we anticipate a summer of mostly social get-togethers, such as an Irish history lecture, a picnic in a state park, and an outing to a baseball game. With the onset of Autumn, we will start another year of dancing! Plus we support and plan to attend the dance events of our sister organizations, EIC and GWCC. Irish set and ceili dancing carries on in the DC/Baltimore area!

During a bright day in April, the Dinner Out group sallied forth to a small Persian restaurant, the Caspian House of Kabob in the Kentlands. It was an unusual change in the style of our outings in that, because of our large number, we each had to go to the counter to order our menu choices, and the food came out piecemeal. Nevertheless, it was generally tasty and between bites the conversations rolled on for nearly two hours.

Gathered on both sides of a long row of tables are Tom, Sonja, Pat, Connie, Carl, Jean, Linda, Gina, Jack, Kathryn, Marilyn O., Dick, Kathi, Michelle, Kate, Dan, Mary B., Alison, Jim Ca., Barb and Bill. Dick and Kathi had recently returned from a trip to Iceland, sharing marvelous photos. Alison was beaming about her new kids - several hens to replace the ones recently eaten by hawks. Mary, Marilyn and Michelle were back from a trip to Kure Beach in North Carolina where they enjoyed the seashore and took in (on TV) the NCAA men's and women's final four games.

Not pictured, but about a month later we ate Italian style at the Biscotti restaurant. It was another culinary treat!

At the eighth Game Day hosted by David and Kathy, more than two dozen players showed up to take on the Mexican Train, Blockus, and other challenges. Jim Ca. was one of the winners of the warm up game of Left-Right-Center, and the first man to do so in the series.

At the tables were John M., Carl and Jean W., Sonja, Connie, Marilyn O., Marilyn W., Mary Ann, Bill and Maddy, Colleen, Carole, Christine, Marie V., Barb, and the aforementioned Lucky Jim Ca.

Our always-creative hosts came up with a new game — Bowl of Fun. It involves guessing what's written on a small folded square of paper. The word-holder must try to evoke the right answer from his or her team. It's a timed game and the fun starts when the clue-giver is allowed only one word to use, or has to pantomime that mystery word, within a given time. Kathy was our timekeeper.

As we mentioned in the prior Blarney!, just about every Monday night there's a jam session at Glen Echo's Irish Inn. April 21 was no exception to the merriment-inducing sounds of of Zan McLeod, Jesse Winch, Tina Eck, Mitch Fanning and friends. Come on out to enjoy in the mirth, have a meal, a pint, and give a listen or a step!