Chapter 1: Early Life and Learning to Dance
Chapter Summary 00:00 / Part 1 - Patricia’s Family Background Patricia was born and raised in Tralee. She describes her family background and recalls that her mother’s family were all very musical, while her father’s brother was able to dance. 01:20 / Part 2 - First Dancing Lessons with Eileen Laide Patricia’s mother sent her to dancing lessons at the age of five. Her first teacher was Eileen Laide and the first step that Patricia learnt was the Jig step. Shortly after, Eileen included Patricia as a dancer in a local concert. Patricia recalls how excited she was to travel to the concert venue in a car. 03:13 / Part 3 - Early Dance Competitions As a young pupil of Eileen Laide, Patricia participated in competitions where she danced Jigs, Four-Hand and Six-Hand Reels. 04:10 / Part 4 - Dance Classes with Irene Gould Patricia subsequently attended dance classes with Irene Gould. Irene was deeply interested in the Arts and the Gaelic League and she had a profound influence on Patricia. Occasionally Irene brought Patricia and another pupil, Honor Flynn, to Phil Cahill for additional dance lessons. He was a former pupil of Jeremiah Molyneaux. 06:10 / Part 5 - Irene Gould’s Legacy Four of Irene Gould’s pupils subsequently became registered Irish dance teachers. They included Patricia (Pat) Hanafin-Nolan, Honor Flynn, Jimmy Smith and Peggy Murphy. 07:57 / Part 6 - Dance, the Catholic Church and Lent Patricia recalls that, formerly, the Catholic Church prohibited the holding of dances during Lent. Instead, concerts were held to help raise funds for local church needs. 09:01 / Part 7 - Dances Taught by Irene Gould Irene taught many group dances, which were always great favourites with Patricia. They included Four-Hand, Six-Hand and Eight-Hand reels, as well as the High Cauled Cap, a traditional Irish Polka.
Chapter 2: Teaching Dance
Chapter Summary: 00:00 / Part 1 - Patricia’s Dance School - the Early Days Patricia left school at 15 and started working in the office of Woolworth’s shop in Tralee. In 1963, at the age of 17, she set up her own dance school. Patricia taught dance several evenings a week, following her day in the office. She was also, at that time, involved with Siamsóirí na Ríochta. 02:38 / Part 2 - Competition Success for Patricia’s Dance School Patricia sat her dance teaching exam, 'Teagascóir Choimisiún le Rinci Gaelacha,' or TCRG for short, in February 1966. This allowed her pupils to participate in dance competitions, such the Irish arts festival' Oireachtas na Gaeilge.' Patricia’s pupils had great success in the 1986 Oireachtas, which was held in Tralee. She also traveled abroad to Lorient, in France, with some of her pupils. 04:50 / Part 3 - The Difficulties in Achieving Competition Success Patricia is of the opinion that it can be difficult for girls to progress in dance competitions due to the large numbers of female participants involved. Some male pupils did attend Patricia’s dance school. However, she found that they were often not as proficient as the girls in learning the steps. Patricia’s dance school costume was red and black in colour. 06:11 / Part 4- Withdrawal from Competitive Dancing About 30 years ago Patricia withdrew her school from competitive dancing events. She could not justify the expense faced by families in providing competitive dancing costumes for their children. Patricia was then surprised to find that her school became very popular with many people because she was not involved in competitions. 07:56 / Part 5 - Dance Competitions Today Patricia believes that, participation in dance competitions today is almost like a full-time job. Nowadays children attend classes three or four times a week and are also expected to practice daily. Nevertheless, they still continue to enjoy the social side of dance. 09:14 / Part 6 - Dancing Then and Now Patricia is of the opinion that Irish Dancing no longer comes from the heart. She is aware that competition can improve and develop any craft. However, Patricia believes that, in the case of dance, it prevents the personality of the dancer from shining through. Irish Dance has, in her opinion, become an art form that requires a great deal of work in order for the dancer to be successful.
Chapter 3: Siamsa Tíre Career
Chapter Summary: 00:00 Part 1 - Siamsóirí na Ríochta - the Early Days Patricia recalls the contribution of Fr Pat Ahern to the musical life of Tralee town during the early 1960s. She was among those who participated in the many cultural events that he directed at that time. Drawing together people with various talents, Fr Pat then put a little group together, Siamsóirí na Ríochta; eventually this evolved into Siamsa Tíre. 02:32 Part 2 - Siamsóirí na Ríochta - Stage and Television Appearances Patricia recalls the many activities that Siamsóirí na Ríochta, the forerunner of Siamsa Tíre, was involved in during the mid to late 1960s. These included several television appearances on Raidió Teilifís Éireann, as well as performances in the Abbey and Peacock Theatres in Dublin. 05:14 Part 3 - Siamsóirí na Ríochta - Annual Summer Shows The four half-hour shows originally developed by Siamsóirí na Ríochta became one annual summer programme. Suddenly tourists had a reason to stop and stay in Tralee and the town greatly benefited. 06:50 Part 4 - Siamsóirí na Ríochta - Keeping the Show on the Road Patricia ‘managed’ the day to day affairs of Siamsóirí na Ríochta when Fr Pat Ahern was transferred to Dublin for six years. He traveled up and down to Kerry for rehearsals. Aside from the Abbey Theatre in 1969, Siamsóirí na Ríochta also performed at a theatre in London in 1971, during which there was a bomb scare. 10:08 Part 5 - American Tour and Rave Reviews Siamsa Tíre Teo was formed in 1974. Two years later, in 1976, the company toured America for the first time and was very well received. Patricia states that, in comparison to 'Riverdance,' their shows comprised more of the art forms, including theatrical elements, song and the Irish language. 11:26 Part 6 - Patricia’s Career with Siamsa Patricia was a member of Siamsa Tíre until 1978. While the summer show was in progress during 1980 a second cast, which included Patricia, was formed to participate in a Canadian festival. Patricia stayed with the company for some more years before leaving and returning for the show 'Ding Dong Dederó' in 1991.
Chapter 4: Dancing - A Way of Life
Chapter Summary: Dancing provided a way of life for Patricia and was a source of many friends, including Fr Pat Ahern. She is grateful that she was sent to dancing classes and for all the support provided to her by her family.
Dance Extracts
Three steps: 1). The Four Crosses Step Patricia and Jimmy dance together (learned from Irene Gould) 2). Jimmy dances a Jeremiah Molyneaux hornpipe step, which he learned from Phil Cahill, a former pupil of Molyneaux. 3). Patricia dances a step she learned from Donnchadh Ó Muineacháin (in Dublin around 1969). Donnchadh was a McTeggart dancer (Cork), and Patricia often danced with him particularly for Comhaltas tours where they often exchanged steps.
Patricia dances 'The Blackbird'.
Patricia dances a 'Treble Reel'