Irish supper and dance a success

Times Contributor

 

It was community volunteers and hard work, not the ‘luck of the Irish’, that helped the Gleichen Community Hall raise approximately $1,350 from their St. Patrick’s Day Irish supper, dance and jam session on last Saturday March 17.

An estimated 99 of 100 available tickets were sold to the fourth annual event, which helped raise funds to go toward a matching grant to make the hall entrances handicapped accessible.

But according to hall board member Doris Lindman, it isn’t just about raising money, but about providing the community with an opportunity “to come out and eat and play,” and guests did plenty of both.

Supper was traditional Irish fare with stew and soda bread, followed by a range of deserts. The playing was music provided by Miles Tornberg who led a jam session for local musicians, and even some not so local such as Harry and Nora Dreidger from Minnedosa, MB who were in town visiting Nora’s sister Alice Booth. 

Other music included piper and drummer Kelsey and Cameron Drummond, who provided a half hour of traditional Irish songs before supper and then piped in the desserts later that evening. 

The next event for the Gleichen hall hasn’t been determined as yet, but the board is taking steps to try and increase community involvement, especially among the younger residents. As part of that they have arranged for a local church youth group to help out with set-up and clean-up in return for a donation. 

According to board member Alice Booth it will be a win-win situation as the hall board members get some needed help, and the members of the youth group have a chance to learn some new skills and be involved in the community in ways they may not have been before.