Sell-out crowd sees €20,000 raised at celebrity dance event

Meath's Answer to Strictly Come Dancing was a huge success at the Knightbrook Hotel last Saturday night, attracting an audience of more than 1,000 people. But it was the moves of Ashbourne priest Fr Derek Darby and artist Noreen Walshe that impressed the judges and the audience the most to see them crowned champions on the night. While all monies are not yet in, the organisers estimate that in the region of €20,000 was raised for the Mother of Peace Children's Home in Illovo, South Africa. The huge ballroom in Trim's Knightsbrook Hotel was full to capacity for the sell-out event and the atmosphere was electric as the first of the 12 couples took to the dance floor to show off their routines. From jives and tangos to Charleston dances, the 12 couples put their weeks of practice into operation, giving the celebrity judges Gloria, Pat Mullaney, Colm O'Rourke and Fiona Carroll plenty to think about. MC on the evening was Peader Farrelly, who did a tremendous job interviewing the couples and judges. After each couple had performed their dance, the judges selected six couples to go through to the dance-off and each member of the audience had the chance to vote for their favourite. Ashbourne curate Fr Darby and Noreen Walshe's show-stopping Charleston dance was a real crowd-pleaser thanks to their dynamic routine and energetic moves to the song 'Fat Sam's Grand Slam' from the 'Bugsy Malone' movie. There was rapturous applause as they were named winners and the 'couple' were each presented with a beautiful crystal trophy. The other participants received a smaller trophy as a memento of the evening. The event was extremely professional with elaborate lighting and tiered seating around the dance floor and the dances and interviews were projected onto large screens around the venue. The committee of Mother of Peace Children's Home have thanked all the couples that gave up their time to practice and participate in the event, and a special thanks went to chorographers Robert and Adrian (Steppin Out), Genevieve and Martin Dolan and Gus Callaghan for their expertise. Thanks also went to Shay Casserelly and Raymond Egan along with MG Audio and DJ Donal Norton who turned the evening into a production fit for TV3. The evening was also supported by Ann and Paul Smith, Flowers by Design, McGarry Tiles and Bathrooms, Navan Racecourse, T & J Gavigan Auctioneers, Knightsbrook Hotel and Mark Sheehan from Clickstream for the website. The winners thanked Ribbon Rouge, The Glass Slipper, Helen Moriarty and Azure Hair Studio for transforming them into the Charleston era. All money raised on the night will go towards the Mother of Peace Orphanage in Illovo South Africa, which is home to 60 orphaned and vulnerable children, many of whom are HIV positive. Anyone who would like further information on the charity or would like to help with fundraising should log on to www.motherofpeace.ie for details. Event co-ordinator Johanna McGarry was delighted with the success of the evening and is already looking for volunteers for Meath's Answer To Strictly Come Dancing Part Two for 2011.