Header

FÁILTE - WELCOME

Objectives of An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha

The objective of An Coimisiún is to preserve and promote Irish Dancing. Including step dancing, céilí dancing and other team dancing, and also to promote the use of the Irish Language.

Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne – World Irish Dancing Championships

A full report on the event will be available here in the near future.

DENNIS DENNEHY A.D.C.R.G.

On January 6th An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha lost one of the all time greats of the Irish Dancing World.  Mr Dennis Dennehy, who was born on January 31 1939, grew up on the West Side of Chicago, and as a young man attended St. Philip High School. His parents hailed from the towns of Bantry and Macroom in County Cork, Ireland, and he studied Irish dance with Mary Campbell. He later attended Loyola University, where he met Marge Bartishell, whom he later married.  She had learned her Irish dancing from the late great Pat Roche.

Outside of his Irish Dancing activities, Dennis Dennehy worked as an underwriter for Kemper Insurance in Chicago.  With his wife, Marge, he co-founded the Dennehy School of Irish Dance, and together they taught many wonderful Irish dancers who went on to be crowned champions.  Marge was a talented choreographer, and she even created one called “Lord of the Dance” which featured their star students of that time, including one Michael Flatley.  It was no coincidence that when Michael Flatley went on to create his own show he called it “Lord of the Dance”.  Together Marge and Dennis famously mapped out an award-winning number for the 1976 United States Bicentennial that traced the history of the Irish in America. In one arresting moment, the dancers formed a train to represent Irish labor on the railroads.

The basement of the Dennehy home was filled with trophies.  Among those Dennis Dennehy taught to dance were Eleanor Daley, daughter of the late Mayor Daley of Chicago, and the well known Irish fiddler Liz Carroll, not to mention the President Elect of the IDTANA, Mr Tim O’Hare.  He and Marge also found time to teach their daughter Kathy and son Dennis.  Of his father and mother Dennis has been quoted as saying “My mom and dad would teach together, and they would have the kids in a line, with Mom on one end, and Dad on the other. If you didn’t know your steps too good, you got closer to my mom to avoid Mr. Dennehy’s booming voice”.  Dancers foolish enough to chew gum in class usually found it deposited on their noses.

Dennis was elected for several terms as President of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America, and guided the IDTANA through some of the most important milestones in its history.  His wonderful charm and and air of authority made him one of the most respected people to hold that office.  He represented the IDTANA with distinction as a member of An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, and was elected a Vice Chairman of An Coimisiún in 2008, a role he filled with distinction.  He was an adjudicator who was much sought after at Feiseanna all over the world, and an Examiner appointed by An Coimisiún.  Those of us who have shared Examination Panels with Dennis will always remember his wonderful ability to put candidates, whether for TCRG or ADCRG, at ease.  He will be sadly missed.   

In addition to his wife, Marge and son, Dennis Junior, Dennis Dennehy is survived by his daughter, Kathleen (Kathy), who now runs the dance school founded by her parents.  He is also survived by his sisters Therese Smetana and Margaret Jandacek, his brother, Emmett, and grandson, Conor.

Dennis Dennehy was well known to be a big fan of the University of Notre Dame. He died the day before a recent Notre Dame 42-14 defeat by Alabama in the BCS Championship game. In his last days he told his family ‘I hope I make it to see the game’.  His son’s verdict: “Well, he didn’t miss much.”

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Séamus Ó’Sé, ADCRG, PRO, An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha.

Trivia Corner - Syllabuses v Syllabi

Both are in common usage therefore both are correct. However, since syllabus is derived from Greek, just as octopus and hippopotamus are, the prescriptive grammarian would prefer syllabuses just as they would prefer octopuses and hippopotamuses. If the etymology had been Latin, then just like alumni and foci, the answer would have been syllabi. Nevertheless, English grammar is descriptive rather than prescriptive and since there are two ways of saying it, you can decide.

Unfortunately, whichever word you choose, you are likely to irritate someone who uses the other version and is convinced that his or her version is the only correct one!