Jiving Keepin 'er Country

In rural Ireland, country music has never been so popular.

A host of new country stars have tempted a generation

to turn their back on the nightclub,

don their Stetsons and jive the night away,

from Ballymena to Ballydehob.

This week, it's strictly jiving.

Young people are dancing like it's the 1950s all over again.

You want someone who loves dancing as much as I love dancing

and just wants to do it all night.

Dance classes across the country are jam-packed...

as couples try to outdo each other on the dance floor.

Like, we are, no matter what we say, we're really competitive.

And unless you know your triple chassis from your splice with spice,

and your windmills from your gorillas,

you don't stand a chance in this ultracompetitive world.

-Just don't mess up, all right?

-Right, OK.

We're following some of the best movers in the country as they

attempt to dance their way to glory at the Monaghan Jiving Competition.

OK, it's time for the jiving competition.

But only one couple can claim the ultimate prize.

And the winner is...

Welcome to the competitive world of Irish country music.

Ulster is the heartland of the jiving scene.

And on a Sunday night, the dance floor

at the Four Seasons in Monaghan is never empty.

I've met a lot of people through the dances.

It's a great way to meet people.

Really, really great way to meet people.

It's called the scissors, where you put your arm behind your back

and he swings you around then from one side to the other

and I enjoy doing that there whenever a fella knows

more than just the basic jive.

Two of the best jivers on the scene are close friends

Armagh man Anthony Murchan and Donal McGuigan from Monaghan town.

They live for dancing at the weekends.

A bit of banter, see if there's any good birds about

for a bit of jiving.

Although the boys have regular jiving partners,

they're always on the lookout for new talent.

Maybe meet the woman of my dreams.

-Some hope of that!

-Plenty of money, loads of ground.

The only thing that would love you, son, is your mother.

# Horse swing swinging on a rusty chain

# Midnight kisses, summer and rain. #

The boys are amongst the favourites

at this year's Monaghan Jiving Competition.

And their dancing skills mean that they're always in demand

from the hundreds of women who regularly pack out the dance hall.

But being on your feet for every tune is hot and sweaty work

and these boys have a couple of tricks

up their sleeves to keep themselves looking fresh.

Wear the white one in there, she might not recognise you again.

One night's dancing could see skilled jivers use up to

four fresh shirts.

Give me that.

Because no woman wants to dance with a sweaty man.

Anthony likes to keep his breath fresh, too, just in case.

If anybody seen us here tonight... It's a good thing it's dark.

-Round two, boy!

-Round two!

# Towing, liftin', sowing, baling, drawing, hauling, and buck raking

# Backin', stackin' Plowin', crashing

# Tippin', rappin' Tail doors flappin'

# Sucking diesel Cuttin', trucking... #

In Greysteel, 27-year-old Kevin O'Kane

has a passion for farming.

Farming all my life and I like it.

I could do 120 or 130 hours a week at times

and I don't get fed up with it.

If you're working somewhere else and not happy,

sure, it's a nightmare.

This here's not work, this is fun.

# They thought that we were quittin' when the sun went down

# With the flame from the pipe we drove all night,

# Till the fuel it ran out.

But Kevin has an even bigger love than wrapping silage,

jiving every weekend at dances across the country.

There's the basic jiving, then there's two hands

and then there's spin yourself away

and spin her away and double spins and put your arm up your back.

I call that spaghetti arms,

then there's the helicopter and the windmill,

and there's a whole heap of them.

It's a good craic and if you meet a woman that knows all this,

or that's a good dancer and you can teach her them all,

you'd have a brilliant night's dancing.

You'll never get me in a nightclub again, I don't think.

Kevin's parents were champion dancers in their day, but his

busy work schedule mean he hasn't yet found the ideal jiving partner.

So when he wants to practise a few moves,

he's stuck with his big mate Stephen.

# I joke about how I've always loved you since the age of three

# You stop and stare and look at me. #

He has hopes to enter the Monaghan Jiving Competition.

Go on down. Couple name.

He's not keen on Stephen as a partner

so he'll need to find himself a woman.

You'll have to get a woman first.

Get a woman and go and do your jiving competition.

Go and look for yourself to get a good partner.

I'm going to look at the best dance halls in Ireland

to see who the best...

And where would that be?

Here, the Four Seasons in Monaghan. Super dancers go there.

Today's jiving aces are carrying on family traditions that

stretch back generations.

But this time it's not rock and roll,

the new stars of country music like Johnny Brady, Jimmy Buckley

and Lisa McHugh are tapping the beat to this jiving revival.

# Johnny got married in his one good suit

# But the ride from church he bore strange fruit. #

So integral is the dance form to the country music scene,

those that can't dance find themselves at a severe

disadvantage, especially if you're hoping to impress the opposite sex.

# Who's going to dance with Sally? #

No wonder, then, that dance classes like Niall Doorhy's in West Meath

can attract up to 70 people of all ages on a midsummer's night.

As well as a sought-after dance teacher,

Niall is the main judge in this year's Monaghan Jiving Competition.

One, two, turn the lady and back to home.

And one, two, turn the lady twice.

Niall is very clear about what he is looking for

when judging the competitors.

There's different styles in the country and on the jive and that

and so I have to keep an open mind, as well, in this competition.

When I look at dancers, I like to watch timing and if the timing

is good, you know, they get a lot of points from me in my head anyway.

I don't care about the style, everybody has a style,

but the timing has to be there.

Hip, her hip is down here, lads.

One, two, turn, three, four, five

six, seven, eight.

There is no-one here tonight who would make any

kind of impression on Niall's judging card.

# Take a gamble and say I do

# Hey, baby, let's go to Vegas. #

But one man who might is Kevin,

but only if he is able to find a partner.

He's come all the way to a dance in Monaghan town

and he knows exactly what he's looking for.

She has to be a good dancer, a good lively, bouncy dancer.

A good fit, cuddy, like. Someone that's going to dance and keep at it

and knows all the moves,

and is not going to want to sit down after two dances.

That's no use.

You want someone who loves dancing as much as I love dancing

and wants to do it all night.

# And put him in the truck

# Hey, baby, let's go to Vegas Kiss the single life goodbye. #

Luckily, there are no shortage of fit cuddies for him to dance with

and Kevin wastes no time in hitting the floor.

He come over and asked me for a dance

and he was actually a really good dancer and...

Good dancer, Kevin. Keep it up.

# Viva Las Vegas sparkling lights. #

Kevin was a great dancer, tonight.

He's got great rhythm on his feet.

He even showed that he was able to jive two girls at the same

time which takes a lot of skill involved to do that there.

# You're my lady luck

# Pack a few things and a little money

# And put 'em in the truck. #

Kevin's footwork has impressed the Monaghan regulars,

but another dancer has caught his eye.

# Hey, baby, let's go to Vegas

-# Bet on love and let it ride.

-#

-I'm going to go to the Monaghan dancing competition.

-Oh, yeah?

-Did you hear about it before?

-Yeah, I've never done one before.

Neither did I but I'm going to ask you will be go with me

-and dance on it?

-I think we need a bit of practice, do we?

Aye, well, practice makes perfect.

Um...we'll get a wee bit of practice in the Abbey,

maybe next weekend. Is that OK?

-Abbey Donegal Hotel?

-Yeah.

-And I say yes.

-Right.

-A wee bit of practice.

We'll go there and practice, see how we get on.

-OK, I'll see you there.

-Good enough. Good luck. Bye-bye.

# Don't tell me you love me, when you know it ain't true. #

Two men already with dance partners are Anthony and Donal.

They've found two people

with the same passion for jiving that they have.

# Just pack your bags and hit the road

# Don't even say goodbye. #

I could go down to Donal's house at any night of the week at any time

and his mam would welcome me like I was hers, do you know?

And that's only plainly because I met Donal at a dance.

And the same with Anthony and the same with Aoife.

Like if we we're ever going anywhere, it's like,

"Don't worry, you have somewhere to lie or we'll all go together."

It is really, like, one major big family.

It's absolutely class, like.

# So you'll spend your lifetime Lifetime without me... #

My daddy is a good dancer, but when you dance with the likes of Dad

and you dance with the likes of him, it's two complete...

Even though you're doing the one dance, it's completely different.

# ..I'm tired of the cheatin' And the things that you do... #

Both couples are entering the competition in Monaghan.

Aoife and Stacey take it so seriously

that they have travelled from Roscommon and Donegal

for an afternoon of practice.

What are we from Monaghan? Two hours and ten minutes.

It still wouldn't stop us. We went up to Monaghan one Saturday night,

came home the Sunday morning, had the dinner at home, back into the car

and two hours back up the road again and home that night.

But far better men up round the north, so there is.

-That's what you travel for.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

These are new boots I bought this morning coming out of mass.

I was walking past the shop and I seen them in the window,

so I thought I'd give these a run for their money,

see what they're like.

So...I'm going to break them in now for the dance later.

They're nice and comfortable, you know, they are light

and they don't sweat your feet.

# We're from the country and we like it that way... #

Like any scene,

there is a particular dress code that goes with the music.

# ..We're back up in the country Back in the hills

# Down in the valleys... #

You wouldn't be laughing in a pair of skinny jeans

and a pair of plastic slippers!

-No, you have to have brown shoes...

-Brown shoes and the brown belt on.

Sure, it's got the stage now...

It's got to the stage now you have to ring the boys and say,

"If you're wearing that green shirt today, I'm not wearing it tomorrow."

UPBEAT COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS

Although best of friends, when it comes to dancing,

Anthony and Donal are fierce rivals.

It will be more competition among ourselves more than anything,

just be more of a slagging match there to the winner,

"Ha-ha, I beat you," or...

You're going to sit here and say it's in it for the craic,

but nobody enters a competition for the sake of it.

We are, no matter what we say, we are really competitive, like.

Start off this hand, though,

then you drop your hand, but drop it behind your back.

Well done!

Dancing in close proximity to your main rivals

can be a great learning experience,

but you don't want to give away too much.

We'll have to produce the wow factor on the day,

-we can't show all our cards at once.

-We'll show you one.

We'll show you one now if you want.

No, we won't!

It's all competition, so it is.

John Travolta here!

What? I was going for the George Clooney look!

LAUGHTER

# Take me back where the grass grows the greenest... #

The Monaghan Country Music Festival at the end of July

is marked in every good dancer's calendar.

# ..Where the girls are the prettiest in the world... #

The jiving competition attracts hopeful couples

from all over Ireland and the main event is only days away.

# Oh, the pain of loving you! #

Local man PJ McDermott has one of the most important jobs of all.

A comfortable surface for the dancers to dance on.

And, I mean, the energy that is expended by these people dancing,

can you imagine what vibrations go on on the floor?

And that's where the wooden floor allows the vibration to happen.

The last time jiving was at its peak,

competitions were commonplace up and down the country.

In the '60s and '70s, there would be a competition.

It wouldn't be very structured or organised

because there'd be so many out on the floor,

it would be the MC standing on the stage

with the band playing in the background,

looking down, observing, "Oh, yeah, that's a good jiver over there."

We didn't drink, we didn't go to pubs,

so where would you be on your nightly recreation

and where you might meet pretty girls?

It'd be at a dance.

With the final touches being applied,

PJ's floor is ready for its first jive.

That's it, give it some welly!

Very good, 100%, yeah.

I like the way, this year, the sheets are all running this way,

it's a lot better. More firmer, good spring.

Once you have the right partner, you can do anything.

It's all about the partner!

In Donegal, Kevin is sure he's found the perfect partner

in Pamela, a girl he met a week ago in Monaghan.

I'm delighted that she said she'd dance with me. She's a super dancer.

A nice girl, lovely-looking girl and everything,

so well pleased that she is coming today to dance with me.

Hopefully she turns up!

Today's afternoon dance is the last chance

for the couple to work out a winning routine,

but Pamela is running an hour late.

-Sorry I'm late.

-Are you all right?

-How are you?

-Not so bad.

It appears Pamela's choice of dance shoe was the cause of the delay.

I kept him a wee bit late because I had to do the preparation,

there's a lot of prep with the plasters and bits and bobs

because I dance in heels and you get a few blisters and stuff.

I can't dance in flats.

I did keep him waiting a wee bit, but he'll get over that.

He'll have to!

The couple's footwork will have to be impressive

if it's to measure up to

the likes of Anthony and Stacey and Donal and Aoife

who are also using the afternoon dance as a final practice.

Given the calibre of dancers entering,

Kevin is convinced a complicated routine will impress the judges.

But his elaborate dance moves are proving difficult to master.

With a competition of this quality,

you have to be good and use all the moves. You know,

there's no point in doing the basic jive

because everybody can do the basic jive in this competition,

so you want to try and do everything

and if you've one that nobody else has,

that might be the one you need to win it.

'When he asked me to the competition,

'I hadn't done anything like that before,

'so I was a wee bit sceptical about it,

'thought about it and he is so competitive.'

New moves! 'He just wants to win.'

I don't know if we're going to win, but he just makes me want to do it,

so it's his fault!

That's what I'm saying!

# Well, you get down the fiddle and you get down the bow

# Kick off your shoes and you throw them on the floor

# Dance in the kitchen till morning light

# Louisiana Saturday night... #

It's the big day and hopeful jivers

are arriving into Monaghan town centre,

which has been closed off especially for the event.

You've all age groups, everybody's coming, they're all doing it,

they are all going to jiving classes all over the country,

just for this competition.

# ..Dance in the kitchen till the morning light

# Louisiana Saturday night... #

As the couples register and collect their numbers,

Donal looks like he may be dancing solo.

I got a phone call yesterday evening there. Aoife...

She's done some damage to her ankle. Long story short, she can't dance.

She can't dance today, so I'm going to go in here and see

can I find someone here to give this competition a bit of a go.

I can't be letting Anthony away, and Stacey away with it, you know.

# ..Kick off your shoes and you throw them on the floor

# Dance in the kitchen till the morning light... #

And like any good friends, Anthony and Stacey are full of sympathy.

It's a sad day when he has to go traipsing Monaghan's streets,

asking every second woman to dance with him in a competition!

Yeah, he had no luck.

It was devastating for him, an awful thing to happen,

especially so close to the competition, but he hasn't a hope.

-Wouldn't beat us two.

-Wouldn't beat us two,

definitely, definitely not.

The competition judge Niall Doorhy has also arrived in the town...

Have a look at the floor now, see what it's like.

..although his reason for being here is a closely guarded secret.

Nice little crowd building up here.

I recognise a lot of couples going in here today

and if they don't know I'm the judge and I don't know who is competing,

it's better that way, it makes me do my job well.

It's like knowing the referee, don't want any brown envelopes!

With couples using the streets of Monaghan

as impromptu practice floors,

Niall is able to assess the jiving talent.

A bit of a sneaky practice going on here!

I think they must be competing.

They've the whole floor for themselves anyway, that's for sure!

-What?

-They have the whole floor for themselves anyway!

Yeah, you've got that right.

Kevin and Pamela are using every last second to practise.

The couple only met two weeks ago...

and it shows.

Are you all right?

THEY LAUGH

-Are you all right?

-Oh, my God!

Their moves may not be perfect, but at least they have each other.

It's not easy, eh?

# I called on my brother to ask for a loan

# Cos I was busted

# And I hate to beg like a dog for a bone

# But I'm busted... #

Donal is still searching for a partner

and time is running out.

See the time? You have half an hour, you have a half an hour.

Half an hour!

And you just look out there, my friend.

All the women, I'm telling you.

They'll just take one look at me and they'll say,

"Aye, we'll have some of that, sir."

As Donal scours the streets of Monaghan, in Roscommon,

his regular partner, Aoife, if is nursing a damaged ankle

from a trampoline accident.

Last weekend, you know, dancing with Donal and Anthony and Stacey

and all in Donegal, the whole hype was there

and everyone was getting ready for the competition,

EVERYONE was going and all the different couples

and it was all like, "See you next week,"

and all this and it was so exciting

and now it's just all come crashing down,

like it's not going to go ahead, but sure.

Having danced with Donal for years,

Aoife knows just how much this competition means to him.

Just because I'm not there, like, Donal will still get in it,

he will still find a partner, like,

he really, really is a good dancer

and all the practice that he's put into it

and nothing would make him happy until he gets one over on Anthony,

and he's up there, he's looking for someone

and he will find someone to do it with him.

He won't sit it out, not at all.

He'll have no problem finding someone to fill in.

They'd have to reach his standards, like,

to beat Anthony Murchan, I don't know.

He'll get someone and hopefully they'll get somewhere,

but I'm just... I wish I was up there doing it.

I know.

On the jiving scene, all the best dancers know each other

and, in a last-ditch attempt to find a partner...

Hello, what's happening?

..Donal is approaching some old contacts.

I'm sort of looking for a partner here.

Would you do it?

I might.

-I can't promise you... The pay is not...

-No, that's OK, I'll do it.

Will you? Not so bad, not so bad.

His determination has paid off.

Are you happy to be 13, or do you want me to...?

No, I don't want to be 13.

-You want to be 14?

-I'll be 14, yeah.

But at this late stage,

will Laura be able to step into the shoes of Aoife?

Donal is very competitive.

Well, I've heard it anyway!

-No, I'm not!

-Donal, you are!

-Just don't mess up, all right?!

-Oh, right, OK!

-ANTHONY:

-Vote 31! 31 to win!

Where am I going to put my number?

I know where to put it.

STACEY LAUGHS

-Best of luck.

-May the best man win.

I intend to.

THEY LAUGH

The secret to all good jiving couples

is knowing where your partner is at all times.

Failure to do so could end in disaster.

It's nearly time for the jiving competition,

so could we clear the floor, please?

We want contestants inclusive of numbers 1 to 16

on the floor first of all.

Over 40 couples have entered from across the country

and the first round is a series of heats.

Now, we would ask the jivers to give plenty of space between each other.

Will Anthony and Stacey's months of practice pay off?

Can Kevin and Pamela execute their complicated moves?

And will Donal's last-minute partner, Laura,

make an impression on judge Niall

as he takes his place overlooking the dance floor?

I've got nice view here of the contestants,

so I should be able to see pretty well,

if they keep a nice distance apart.

As the heats get underway, Kevin and Pamela are already out of step.

It's a mistake not missed by eagle-eyed judge Niall.

And on the other side of the floor,

Donal and Laura are dancing like they'd been together for years.

In their heat, Anthony and Stacey are tearing up the floor.

Only ten couples will make it to the semifinals

and this year's standard is very high.

OK, the standard is so high in this year's competition

that the judges have decided to increase the number of semifinalists

from 10 to 13 couples.

So, could everybody clear the floor, please

and we will call them all in no particular order.

Couple number 16.

Only those who make the semifinal will hear their numbers called.

Those who don't are out.

Number 14.

CHEERING

Donal and new partner Laura are through,

leaving Anthony and Stacey to sweat.

The next couple to contest the semifinal

is couple number 31.

Anthony and Donal will dance head-to-head in the semifinal.

-And finally...

-But for Kevin and Pamela...

..couple number 32, please join us...

..their dancing is done.

-Oh, well.

-You can't win them all!

-No, you can't, definitely not.

-It's not too bad.

-We tried, we tried!

-Only met you a fortnight ago, three weeks ago.

-Exactly, yeah, exactly.

-Not too bad.

-Oh, well.

There's always next year.

Yeah, right(!)

# The girl I love now lives in Birmingham

# She promised me I'd be her loving man

# She left me for another

# But God knows I still love her... #

The best 13 jiving couples in the country are all on the floor

and Niall's job is to pick six of them for the final.

# ..When I was just a boy of 17

# She came into my life just like a dream

# I told her... #

The judges couldn't get it down to six,

so it's seven couples to contest the final here this evening.

The standard is very, very high.

In no particular order, please take to the floor...

couple number 10!

CHEERING

Couple number 42.

This is where you try and avoid eye contact

with the people who haven't got through!

Also making it to the final

are couple number 31.

As Anthony and Stacey make the final...

Two to go.

..Donal is waiting for the announcer to call lucky 14.

And finally...

couple number 11.

Donal has failed to make the last six...

Big smile on his face over there!

..and Anthony does well to hide his delight.

I'm not allowed to curse, am I?

With only one dance left in the final of the competition,

Anthony and Stacey are up against

some of the best movers in Ireland for jiving glory.

Thank you very much indeed!

Good luck to all the jivers here!

We'll hand you over to our MC again.

-Oh, my God!

-Everyone was dancing very similar styles.

There's more twists, there's more turns from last year.

It's only when you're sitting down here watching the final

that you realise what high standard you have there.

OK, here is the finalists.

Here we go.

Third-place, couple number...

..31!

CHEERING

In second place, couple number...

32!

CHEERING

The winner, couple number 10! Let's hear it for them!

Anthony and Stacey have danced their way to an impressive third place

in the 2015 Monaghan Jiving Competition.

More importantly, they've secured bragging rights over Donal.

Not a hope, not a hope will I hear the end.

Look at him up there, look at him!

LAURA LAUGHS

He'll just be hard to listen to now for another while, but...

Fair play, fair play. I'll give it to you, fair play, you deserve it.

Sure, we are both winners, aren't we?

No, you are the winner. You just wanted to hear that said to you!

I'm the winner, you're not!

# From Cork right up to Donegal

# From Dublin to Mayo

# Yeah, me and my band gonna cross the land

# We're putting on a show

# People say it's here to stay

# Ireland's turning country. #