08/02/2026
For those of you who don’t like a long post… I’m asking that you read all the way to the end☘️💙
The “day after feis” post is usually long… because there are so many people to thank. First and foremost is our incredible parent volunteers who worked so hard, sometimes missing their own children dancing, just to make sure everything is running smoothly. ☘️💙 Our Adjudicators and Musicians are top notch and work tirelessly throughout the day…in the heat.. and whatever else Mother Nature throws our way☘️💙
Joan Ruane.. you’ve been an amazing friend I can’t run this feis without you! I promise, no more late night panicky texts…at least for awhile😂
Thank you to my Golden friend, Eileen Ward.. you are always willing to help and be there for me☘️💙
Every year we are thankful for the Blackthorne Resort, They continue to roll out the red carpet for our event and we appreciate their attention to detail☘️💙
Thank you to our sponsors who gave generously to our event☘️💙
And last but certainly not least, the dancers and dance families who, every year, put their faith in us that we will provide a fair and fun event… with a pool! And a bar!!
Next year 2027 will be our 20th year… it is not our 20th feis due to Covid and a couple of hiccups along the way☘️💙 Our first feis at the Blackthorne was 2007… Michael and I worked very hard planning this event… we had lots of fun planning the fun parts like the pub party, having unusual champ awards, and thinking of different comps like “The luck of the draw” 4 hand reel.. While it was stressful at times, we did it together. The new trend in the past few years has been entering a feis in the last 2 weeks. For a large feis, it can be stressful.. for a small feis like ours, it can mean sleepless night of worry about getting enough entries to pay the adjudicators and musicians and still be able to order trophies. Michael isn’t here to tell me “ it’ll all work out”. Three weeks before the feis, we were $9000 short of meeting our expenses… $9000 that I don’t have and the money tree in my yard refuses to yield. I’ve used the analogy before about inviting you all to a dinner (feis) but if you don’t let me know you are coming (entries) how will I know how much food to buy (trophies), how many tables to set (adjudicators to hire) the list is endless but you get the point.
So for all those reasons, we will run the Catskill Mtn feis at the Blackthorne in 2027.. but it will be the final Catskill Mtn feis.
We want to go out on a high note.. so mark it on your calendars… August 7, 2027.. the final feis.
I want to see ALL Farrell favorites, including alumni, friends, and family. After the feis is over, I want to have a BBQ where we can relax, reminisce, share some laughs and be thankful for all the memories we’ve made over the passed 20 years. I also want you to flood our Catskill Mtn feis page with pictures and memories. Together, Michael and I created something pretty special but the time has come to say Goodbye☘️💙☘️
