D.I.F. Bayern e.V.

Sometime in 1999 Paul Daly announced that nobody was dancing in Munich, dirty or otherwise. He meant Irish Set Dancing and mentioned it to Alison Moffat who promptly set about putting things to rights. The problem, of course, was where to find musicians who could play enough Irish dance music to keep a dance evening going and even more so to find musicians who would be prepared to forego their free time in front of blazing turf fires to play one Monday evening every month for a few drinks and a pecuniary pittance. Approaching musicians with the offer of joining a band without a recording contract, manager, publicist, rehearsal rooms and only ONE gig per month needs a lot of daring and cajoling and awesome powers of persuasion.

Nevertheless the following ladies and gents by name and trade signed on the dotted line and the Munich Céilí Band rose like a staggering Phoenix out of the ashes and gave Alison the benefit of the doubt: Marianne Dechant –Architect/ Accordeon, Hans Dechant– Architect/Fiddle, Sue Bollans – Accredited Translator/Piano, Steve Wiskin-Richards - Auto Engineer/Percussion, Hans- Werner Sahm –Artist/Banjo, Frank McLynn – Language Consultant/Fiddle, Colm O’Tuama –Musician/Flute, Detlef Grabowski –IT Specialist/Bodhrán/Jaw Harp, Martin Oswald – Police Commissioner/Fiddle, Isabella Jarczyk –Teacher/Fiddle, Jim Klopfenstein – Musician/Double Bass, Jane Ross –Musician/Penny Whistle.

A little rehearsal in rooms above one of Mr Daly’s Emporia for Relaxation resulted in the first céilí evening which was a resounding success. The band went from strength to whatever else bands go to and built up a loyal following of foottappers, cripples, hoppers, kneejerkers, slippers and begrudgers. The odd commercial gig followed and the band has continued to perform with various lineups but the basic original since 1999. The Monday night céilí has become a must for many people in Munich and could very well become a must for you on the first Monday of every month from 9:00pm down in Killian’s Olde Tyme Dance Hall, Frauenplatz 11 right next to the Dom in the city centre. No dancing experience is required because the band has a wonderful caller/teacher, Barbara Dillon, who will guide you through the intricacies of stepping and swinging. As they say; “If you’re not in – you can’t win” so forget the Jane Fonda diets and the Fit for Life starvation torture and come down to shed the pounds and do the rounds with The Munich Céilí Band!

Photo left to right: Barbara Dillon, Alison Moffat, Hans Dechant, Steve Wiskin-Richards, Colm O’Tuama, Frank McLynn, Jane Ross, Hans-Werner Sahm, Sue Bollans, Isabella Jarczyk, Marianne Dechant, Jim Klopfenstein.

More info see: www.munichceiliband.com

Frank McLynn