The Half-Door Club international Music and Dance Festival is a four-day event of set dancing and traditional music in Castletown, Co. Laois. There are 5 ceilithe and 3 workshops and sessions throughout.

Here are some photos & articles, comments or tribute from our friends about the festival

Andrew singing in sean nos style:

Click here to enjoy the lyrics of Andrew O’Connel

Click here to see Andy singing at the Late night Session of the Castletown Festival 2008

The man responsible for the name of our club is none other than the late inimitable set-dancing master, Connie Ryan. We have to go back to March 1993, when Connie and Betty McCoy were doing a weekend workshop in Newcastle West. Two cars arrived for the céilí that night from County Laois. John Sinnott was just moving into his ancestral traditional cottage where his grandfather was born. One of the lads mentioned to Connie about the half-door of the house where they would meet regularly. (Photo : Connie Ryan teaching in Cape May)

During the céilí and on other occasions, Connie would be heard to say: “Oh! Here come the Half-Door Boys again” and so the name stuck.

Click here to discover the full history

At the Castletown Community Centre, Laois

We are 1h30 from Shannon and 1h00 from Dublin on the N7 if you are coming by plane. There is a bus every hour to Mountrath or Portlaoise. The nearest train station is Portlaoise.

Check for coaches from Shannon and Dublin airports