Limerick lawyers raise over €20,000 for charity on the ballroom floor

The unprecedented event, the brainchild of Limerick Solicitors Bar Association (LSBA) secretary Derek Walsh, was a huge success, with all 800 tickets sold and over €20,000 raised for the Children’s Grief Centre and Mid-Western Cancer Foundation.

Ten couples were put through their paces by the supremely talented teacher Bridget Harte of Shall We Dance and kept on their toes by the organising committee of Niamh White, Rachel Meehan, Maria Riordan and Mr Walsh, who put an incredible amount of work into the show.

Amidst a sea of sequins and glitter, the dancers, who spent weeks mastering their routines, convened at the South Court Hotel for one final full rehearsal. The nervous energy backstage was palpable as the function room quickly began to fill and the atmosphere was electric.

However the dancers impeccably channelled this into putting on a wonderful show for all present, including Judge Aeneas McCarthy, Judge Marion O’Leary and Judge Mary Emer Larkin, who were welcomed as special guest judges for the night.

Photographer Brian Arthur captured the night in photos published by Irish Legal News today.

The dancers

Bryan Sheehan and Hillary McSweeney opened the show with a lively and fun Lindy Charleston, setting the tone for the evening ahead.

Derek Walsh and Ita Barrett then worked their hips with a sassy Samba.

Ger O’Neill and Elizabeth Walsh almost brought the house down with a sultry Argentine Tango.

Donal Creaton and Jennifer Markham wowed the crowd with an elegant ballroom routine.

John Battles and Sinead Nolan brought the energy and performed a fast paced free style routine.

After the interval, Philip Moloney and Mary Geary donned their leather and rocked the dance floor to Grease Lightning.

Kieran O’Donovan and Lisa O’Brien then took to the floor to perform a fiery Latin routine.

They were followed by Mark Potter and Maria Lane, who truly stepped it up to perform a bold and smouldering Tango.

Olan Buckley and Rebecca Treacy took to the skies for their Charleston, which had Rebecca performing gravity-defying moves.

Pat Barriscale and Sarah Falvey were the last act of the night and it is was a dance worth waiting for as Sarah and Pat wowed the crowd with a lively Salsa number.

As the voting finished, all the dancers took to the stage one final time before Ger O’Neill and Elizabeth Walsh were deservedly crowned the winners of Strictly Legal Eagles 2018.