Pending the final signatures on the proposed agreement, it seems definite that the Worlds are heading to Ennis.

It looks like the accommodation hotline is going to open on 31st January, giving everyone equal opportunity to book at the West County Hotel.

Naturally the biggest concern of most of you who have already made arrangements to go is what happens to your deposits on hotels, B&B's etc. Lynch Hotels will help where people are not getting deposits refunded by meeting hoteliers, boarding houses and private homes, etc., directly, to explain the full circumstances. If deposits are still not released, Lynch Hotels will secure accommodation at very suitable rates and "bus" people to and from the venue in Ennis at no charge.

Where people are having difficulty getting such monies back they should get confirmation of this in writing from the relevant hotelier stating that the deposit paid (stating how much) is not being returned. This confirmation should be forwarded via their teachers to the An Coimisiún office in Dublin (www.clrg.ie) so that a file can be compiled for Lynch Hotels for their action.

Please post this information to other Irish dance lists and message boards, and forward to anyone you know who might be going to the Worlds this year, won't you? More info will be forthcoming as soon as it's available. Thanks very much!

Important information coming out of a meeting just held by some members of the Irish Dancing Commission (An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha -- www.clrg.ie) about the World Championships that were due to be held this year in Limerick, Ireland.

Because the South Court Hotel and Conference Centre at which the Worlds have been scheduled to take place from April 7 - 15 is too small, and the planning commission of Limerick won't allow for an expansion, it is proposed that the Worlds (Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne) be moved to the West County Hotel in Ennis (where the All-Irelands are being held next month) -- which is about an hour's drive north of Limerick.

Naturally there are all kinds of discussions taking place to try to alleviate some of the problems being caused by these actions, and dancers planning to go should first contact their Irish dance teachers or their regional representatives or directors. There probably won't be any official announcements for a couple of days, but rest assured that folks are working very hard to resolve these issues so that as few people are inconvenienced as possible.