Months of rehearsals and fundraising culminated in a night of high drama and great excitement for Buffers Alley club members in the Amber Springs Hotel on Saturday night as one of Wexford's top hurling clubs showed once again that they are equally at home on the dance floor in the final of their Strictly Club Dancing competition. Many of the dancers were swapping the pitch for the dance floor and their boots for their dancing shoes as they showed us their graceful side.

The audience of over 800 people in the packed ballroom was wowed by the fancy footwork on show, as well as some risky and high-flying gymnastic moves by many of the dance couples from Buffers Alley. Tom Dempsey returned to the stage as MC and really added to the enjoyment on the night, showing once again why he is in high demand with both local and national media. As sharp as ever, Tom kept the night flowing as he engaged with the dancers and judges, and kept the audience amused at all times. In the end, the couple of Seán Murphy and Rebecca O’ Brien emerged victorious on the night, with their crowd-pleasing routine winning over the judges and audience alike. They combined the fast footwork with some hair-raising lifts and Rebecca literally stood head and shoulders above the competition as she soared into the sky with the help of Seán.

They had spent months rehearsing with their hard-working and enthusiastic dance tutors, Linda Kehoe and Lisa Keogh. The nine Buffers Alley dancing couples on the night were Bob Butler and Maria Heffernan; John Furlong and Katie Hammel; Jimmy O'Leary and Eilis Teal; Seán Murphy and Rebecca O'Brien, Barry Kennedy and Maeve Bolton-Lee; Martin Burke and Mary Byrne; John Farrell and Katie Doyle; Tony Doran and Johanna Murphy; Shane Grannel and Lynsey Sweeney. The judges on the night were Tom Kavanagh, Bernie Roche, Caroline Reidy and Declan Flanagan, with each judge expressing their delight at the dance moves on show.

After each couple took to the stage to impress, the audience were given a chance to vote for the couple they wanted to see progress to the final. After a nervous wait backstage, the dancers emerged to the news that Bob and Maria, Seán and Rebecca, John Farrell and Katie Doyle and John Furlong and Katie Hammel would dance again in the final. After once again wowing the audience, the judges retreated into isolation to deliberate over their chosen winners on the night. Entertainment was provided by The Madcaps with Joe Doan and nephew Colm Óg giving the audience a rendition of their comical song “Take That” as the audience awaited the final result. Seán and Rebecca were eventually announced as the overall winners to a huge cheer.  A large crowd stayed around to dance the night out to the Disco provided by Nigel & Katie Quaid. A memorable night for one and all!

The club extends a big thank you to everyone who contributed to such a successful night, including dancers, dance teachers, fundraising team, make-up and hair artistes, audience, judges, committee and of course the very generous sponsors, without whom an event like this could not take place.