Posts Categorized: Feis Reviews

Milwaukee Feis 2014 Review

Posted by Jeannette & filed under Feis Reviews, Milwaukee Feis, Wisconsin Feis.

milThe 25th Annual Milwaukee Feis was held on August 9, 2014 at the Student Union at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The feis was run back to back with the McMenamin Feis, and so some aspects of this review apply to the review for the Sunday feis as well.

This is the 3rd year we have attended this feis, and we have always found it to be a pleasant experience. This year was no different, and we anticipate returning again next year as well.

Venue

The student union makes a nice home for a feis, with separate rooms for each stage, plenty of seating and areas to spread out away from the stages. There is ample practice room, plenty of accessible bathrooms, and lots of food options for hungry dancers (and their families). read more

McMenamin Academy Feis 2014 Review

Posted by Jeannette & filed under Feis Reviews, McMenamin Academy Feis, Wisconsin Feis.

mcMThe 4th Annual McMenamin Academy Feis was held on August 10, 2014 at the Student Union at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The feis was run back to back with the Milwaukee Feis, and so some sections of this review will refer to the Saturday feis review in order to avoid duplication.

This is the 2nd time we have attended this feis, and we have generally had a pleasant experience and would likely return again next year.

Venue

(See Milwaukee Feis Review for commentary)

Overall Venue Score: 9/10

Judges

My dancer danced 6 times and was seen by 4 judges, which is pretty darn good judge rotation in my book. My only complaint is that 2 of the 4 judges who saw her on Sunday had also judged her on Saturday. I know it would be difficult for the 2 feiseanna to coordinate completely new judges for grades dancers on Sunday, but it would be nice to see an attempt made. read more

Chicago Feis 2014 Review

Posted by Jeannette & filed under Chicago Feis, Feis Reviews, Illinois Feis.

The 2014 Chicago Feis was held on May 25-26, 2014 at Chicago Gaelic Park in Oak Forest, IL. It is part of Chicago Gaelic Park’s annual Irish Fest, which is a 4 day festival. This is the 3rd year we have attended this feis, and it definitely has a different feel than many other feiseanna in our region.

Venue

Chicago Gaelic Park appears to be mainly a banquet facility. It is a smaller building that does not have a lot of room for people & seating, never mind zucas, dress bags, etc. It is an older building with limited bathroom facilities and questionable air conditioning. read more

Dairyland Feis 2014 Review

Posted by Jeannette & filed under Dairyland Feis, Feis Reviews, Wisconsin Feis.

dairylandThe 2nd Annual Dairyland Feis was held on Sunday January 19, 2014 at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center in Oconomowoc, WI. The feis was run back to back with the Wisconsin Winter Feis, and so some parts of this review will refer to the review for Saturday’s feis to avoid duplication.

This was our 2nd year attending this feis, and we have generally had a pleasant experience.

Venue

See Wisconsin Winter Feis Review for commentary.

Overall Venue Score: 8/10.

Judges

My dancer danced 6 times and was only seen by 1 judge, and that judge had seen her for 4 of her 6 dances the day before. In my mind, this is totally unacceptable. Even with running by level, judges could have been rotated so the dancers were seen by 3 judges. read more

Wisconsin Winter Feis 2014 Review

Posted by Jeannette & filed under Feis Reviews, Wisconsin Feis, Wisconsin Winter Feis.

winterfeis-picThe 14th Annual Wisconsin Winter Feis was held on Saturday January 18, 2014 at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center in Oconomowoc, WI. The feis was run back to back with the Dairyland Feis, and so some aspects of this review apply to the review for the Sunday feis as well.

This was the first year we attended this feis, and we had a pleasant experience overall.

Venue

The Olympia was a new venue for this feis this year, and I thought it was nice. It was an older hotel, and a little remodeling probably wouldn’t hurt, but structurally, it was a nice facility for a feis. There were several ballrooms for stages, room for vendors & practicing, and a nice remote (and pretty much unused!) location for camping. read more

Delaware Feis 2014, Grades Review

Posted by Corabelle Colbert & filed under Delaware Feis, Delaware Feis, Feis Reviews.

iccdThe 35th annual Delaware Feis sponsored by the Irish Culture Club of Delaware was held on Sunday, August 10th at St. Marks Catholic High School, Wilmington, DE.

Venue

Upon entering the campus the road brings you to to a massive parking lot. There will be a walk into the building from the parking area, but on a beautiful day (as it was this year) you won’t mind. If you need to drop off someone/something there is a room to do so. The High School is a modern building and boasts ample space. A huge field sits in front of the high school and is the perfect area to take pictures of your dancer. read more

Great Lakes Feis 2014, PC/OC Review

Posted by What The Feis & filed under Feis Reviews, Great Lakes Feis, Michigan Feis.

image001The 12th Annual Great Lakes Feis was held August 17th, 2014 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, MI.

We have attended the Great Lakes Feis numerous times and we really like it. We have been going longer than I have been writing reviews, here are the reviews and additional posts I did write.

I was saddened to hear this feis was moving dates in 2015 to the last weekend in July, which is the same weekend as our local Celtic Festival where our school volunteers and dances, so if you go next year, don’t look for me, afraid I won’t be there. read more

Missouri State Championship Feis 2014 Review

Posted by Mellie Wilkes & filed under Feis Reviews, Missouri Feis, Missouri State Championship Feis.

The Missouri State Championship Feis was held at the DoubleTree Hilton Union Station, in downtown St. Louis. This is a new feis and it debuted on August 2, 2014. This feis offered an abundance of specials, for all ages and abilities. From trophies to sashes to cash prizes. This feis had something for everyone. The volunteers were hard working, ready to help, and able to answer questions. Every volunteer we had interaction with was helpful, smiling, and encouraging. You could almost call them Disney perfect helpers. Job well done, MO State Champs Feis Team Members! read more

Rockland County Feis 2014 PC/OC Review

Posted by Mom O'Three & filed under Feis Reviews, New York Feis, Rockland County Feis.

rocklandThe 41st Annual Rockland County Feis was held on July 20, 2014 at the German Masonic Park in Tappan, NY.

Venue

Outside, in an open field. Bring your tents and chairs because it can get hot and the premium real estate goes fast. There is parking all around the venue, with parking attendants to direct the drivers. Trying to lug your Zuca bag through the rocks in the parking lot brings its own challenges, but the dancer managed it well. Bring your money, there is a per person gate fee attached to this feis, of course, dancers do not need to pay. There are activities going on all day – singing, music, kids games, even a playground for the siblings of bored dancers. read more

Governor Thomas Dongan Feis 2014 PC/OC Review

Posted by Mom O'Three & filed under Dongan Feis, Feis Reviews, New York Feis.

medalThe 26th Annual Governor Thomas Dongan Feis was held on Saturday July 19, 2014 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY.

Venue

After several years of attending this feis, I still have no idea why I can’t find the actual venue. Everyone says to drive to the “big egg”. I can see the big egg, but it always takes me 15 minutes to figure out how to park near the big egg. This year was a little better, with only 10 minutes of circling the venue and its three surrounding blocks before I paid my $5 to park. Bring cash with you upstairs, because each adult is charged an additional gate fee. Grade stages are in the main room, with champ stages in two separate rooms. read more