KEEN dancers in Basingstoke should take note of a growing annual Irish music and set-dancing event.

For the third year running, dancing partners, Carol Gannon and Kevin Monaghan, are presenting a weekend dedicated to dancing as many different sets as possible over three days, from September 24 to 26.

The couple, who met through dancing 12 years ago, run weekly classes at the Irish Centre, in Council Road, Basingstoke, on Thursday evenings.

Gannon, who has lived in Basingstoke most of her life, said their idea came from an event they attended in Manchester, which inspired them to organise a similar weekend in the south.

She said: “We have top teachers and musicians coming from Ireland to lead the workshops and play for the ceilidhs, and we attract a loyal following of dancers from not only all corners of the UK, but Ireland, France, and even Japan and the USA!”

She added that she and her partner, who is originally from Galway, have a dedicated group of volunteers who help to run the event smoothly.

The weekend will kick off with a ceilidh on Friday night in Basingstoke’s Carnival Hall, in Council Road, with music by Triskell.

Throughout Saturday, Padraig and Roisin McEneany will be leading workshops at the Irish Centre, followed by a ceilidh from 8pm until midnight in Carnival Hall, with a licensed bar. On Sunday, a workshop will run from 11am to 1pm followed by a final ceilidh between 2.30pm and 5.30pm, both in Carnival Hall. Individual workshops cost £5 and ceilidhs £10, and weekend tickets, including all ceilidhs and workshops, cost £40.

More information is available online on Facebook, under SetsMad Dancing, or by writing to setsmad @googlemail.com or calling 07787 317431.