Ireland Close Up

The media everywhere start looking very closely at the dancers who represent their country in this year's Eurovision Dance Contest (EDC). That's not too much of a surprise, since at least one dancer of every couple is a bona fide celebrity in his or her country.

Seán P. Feeny of the Donegal News reports on the Irish entry in the EDC 2008:

Rehearsals are in full-swing for Donegal's dancing sensation and Ros na Rún star, Gavin Ó Fearraigh, for the upcoming Eurovision Dance Contest.

Once again teaming up with his Celebrity Jigs'n'Reels winning partner, Dearbhla Lennon, Gavin is training for a performance of a lifetime in Glasgow on September 6th,.

"I've been living out of a suitcase for the past few weeks staying in a hotel and actually had to go home last weekend as I had no clean clothes left," he laughed.

Gavin is putting in countless hours with his coach, professional dancer Danilo Forte, who is taking care of the couple's new choreography.

"The two-minute dance for the contest is a combination of Latin Ballroom and Irish Dancing, so it's new to both Dearbhla and myself," said Gavin.

"Besides going to regular meetings with RTÉ regarding costume fittings and other things that need to be organised, I'm in every day on my own with Danilo rehearsing during the day and in the evening I'm training with Dearbhla."

Read the full article, click here!

Published on 28 August 2008