The Ballyduff Dancers and Musicians bring their booley house show to the television studio.
Members of the Michael Ryan School of Dancing in Ballygiblin with musicians from the Ballyduff branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in County Waterford give a taste of what to expect on a visit to the Booley House.
As John Coleman explains, the community there felt there was a demand for a different type of entertainment,
Something other than public house orientated.
They created a traditional evening of music, dancing and theatre for tourists, calling it the Booley House.
A booley house was a simple one-roomed structure built in the mountains or hills where in times past people would live while their cattle grazed on fresh grass growing there during the summer months.
This agricultural practice was known as booleying (from the Irish word buaile, meaning a milking-place in summer pasturage).
As it was a break from the farm tasks and routine of the rest of the year, the long summer nights at the booley houses were filled with music, dancing, storytelling and socialising.
At the Booley House in Ballyduff hospitality comes in the form of tea and traditional bastable cakes (cakes baked in a bastable oven beside an open fire) before the evening entertainment begins. So far this summer show which raises funds for local amenities has been a great success.
We had people from every continent in the world to see the show.
This episode of 'It's Bibi' was broadcast on 19 January 1994. The presenter is Bibi Baskin.
‘It’s Bibi’ was one of several chat shows presented by Bibi Baskin on RTÉ Television. It ran from autumn 1992 to summer 1994. It was broadcast for half an hour on Tuesday and Thursday nights during its first season and for an hour on Wednesday nights during its second season.
