Eimear Wakefield (front) leading the injured while filming; (including) Alba Trigo-Lyster, Caoimhe Strickland and Clodagh Wakefield on location in Gortumbloe, Rochfortbridge.

Emerald Lakes prepare new show with Famine theme

Published: Thu 21 Jan 2021, 4:14 PM

Last updated: Thu 21 Jan 2021, 4:18 PM

The Emerald Lakes Academy of Irish Dance and TTC Group, led by Kevin Lyster, have been working hard during the Covid-19 pandemic and ended last year on a high.

Similar to most groups, Emerald Lakes has been severely affected by Covid-19 restrictions, but that has not stopped the group from being active in the communities of Rochfortbridge, Mullingar and surrounds.

The excitement has been building locally as their new project ‘The Voyage’ gets under way.

Faith Ward, Alice McDonnell, Katie Martin and Ava Loran on location at Lough Derravaragh.

In November, Dave Treacy of Killucan and his team arrived in Rochfortbridge with TV cameras and drones to commence outdoor filming, assisted by Philip Hynes and Marilyn Loran, for a creative cinematic and theatrical Irish dance production, to be stages at Mullingar Arts Centre this year.

The Voyage, created, written and directed by Kevin Lyster, follows his previous show at the arts centre, ‘Forgotten Children in 1916’, which Kevin created for the centenary celebrations of the 1916 Rising.

The production is based on the Great Famine from c.1847 and promises to bring a powerful and emotional story to the stage as the performers recreate the journey to America.

Marco Trigo-Lyster and Siobhan Marshall on film location at Lough Derravaragh.

Filming was at multiple locations in Westmeath, including Rochfortbridge and Lough Derravaragh, and the scale of the production will give the community a sense of what the group are capable of.

The release of the trailer on social media has already gained tens of thousands of views.

Kevin and his team look forward to an exciting 2021 at Emerald Lakes.

Kevin Lyster (creator and director) with field-assistant Philip Hynes on location at Lough Derravaragh.

Emily Murray, Zofia Bielicka, Emma Gove and (centre) Chloe Fitzgerald on set in the frame at Gortumbloe, Rochfortbridge.

Other news at Emerald Lakes

Within weeks of the start of the first lockdown in March 2020, Emerald Lakes had created an online platform for members on flipgrid. Members had weekly updates, challenges, video tutorials and exercise routines with links to the websites of the Westmeath PPN, Youth Works Ireland and WIDA, the World Irish Dance Association.

To enhance its online presence, Emerald Lakes conducted free live Zoom classes and activities and organised weekly guest talks with industry professionals such as Riverdance lead dancer, Lauren Smyth, and Lord of the Dance lead dancer, Fran Dunne. Having such professionals zoom into homes across Westmeath with Emerald Lakes was a proud moment for the group.

Things did not stop there as Emerald Lakes Projects ‘Smile for Mental Health’ and ‘Be Happy’ asked members to share their smiles and happy moments during the lockdown. Those projects, including specially created Irish dance routines for Darkness into Light, set the group on course for another project.

In August when the pandemic restriction were lifted, Emerald Lakes TTC brought two members of Riverdance, Celtic Woman, Prodjig and the Olympia Panto for four days of workshops at Forest Park, Mullingar.

This benefited the group hugely, especially younger and teen members, enhancing stage performance, dance routines and healthy living through the arts. Emerald Lakes Dancer Blaithin Stenson subsequently made it into the semi-finals of An Ril Deal on TG4 and the panel of expert judges, including Brendáin De Gallaí, gave great her great compliments.

Emerald Lakes TTC Group went on to take part in live online competitions in Irish dance in Hong Kong, Australia, USA, Germany, Ireland and the UK, all direct and live from Mullingar – to have Hong Kong, Darwin, Melbourne, Edinburgh and Philadelphia champions locally is unique.

The group also brought the WIDA All Ireland Championships to Mullingar in September, with an approved event at the Park Hotel. It was held under strict conditions, and was a huge success and a credit to the entire team, as well as the local authorities for their assistance.

Emerald Lakes excelled and had two All-Ireland Champions on the day, Amy Devaney and Zofia Bielicka.

The successful dancers included Alice McDonnell, Makayla Kennedy, Katie Martin, Siobhan Marshall, Martina Foley, Theresa Aldridge, Blaithín Stenson, Karen Coughlan, Ava Loran, Marilyn Loran, Katie Mangan, Brianna Fitzgerald, Luca Trigo-Lyster, Caoimhe Marshall, Alba nd Leila Trigo-Lyster, Deirdre and Aoife McCormack, Emily Murray, Mary Jones, Sarah Loran, Marco Trigo-Lyster, Amy Devaney, Emily Hopkins, Chloe Bradley and Julijanas Milasius, who all took top spots across the globe.