Mayor announces Tea Dance Series for 2025-2026
20 August 2025
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Ruairí McHugh has announced details of a new series of Mayoral Tea Dances, welcoming residents from across the district to enjoy an afternoon of music, dance, and community spirit. The series will kick off with its inaugural event at the Guildhall on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 2pm to 4pm.
Encouraging people from across the District to register to take part, Mayor McHugh said: "I am delighted to invite everyone to join us for our first tea dance of my Mayoral year and to register for their Guildhall Tea Dance ticket. These tea dances are more than just an event; they are an important social outlet, particularly for our older residents. It is vital that we provide opportunities for people to come together, socialise, and enjoy themselves in some of our most beautiful and welcoming venues, combating loneliness and fostering a strong sense of community. It's also a fantastic way to support my chosen charities for the year, -PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland Charity and The Castlederg Patient Comfort & Terminally Ill Fund, two local organisations that do incredible work for our communities."
The Guildhall will host four tea dances throughout the 2025-2026 season. Attendance at these events is open to all who have registered for and received a Guildhall Tea Dance Ticket. The full schedule for the Guildhall is as follows: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 (2pm - 4pm); Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (2pm - 4pm); Wednesday, March 11, 2026 (2pm - 4pm) and Wednesday, May 13, 2026 (2pm - 4pm)
In addition to the events at the Guildhall, there will be several special ticket-only tea dances held at other locations throughout the district to ensure wider participation. Information on how to request tickets for these events will be provided to all attendees who register for their Guildhall Tea Dance ticket. The schedule for the additional tea dances includes the following: - St Pat’s Hall, Strabane: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 (2pm - 4pm). Tickets will be available from November 25, 2025. The Alley Theatre in Strabane on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 (2pm - 4pm) and St Davog's GAC, Aghyaran, Castlederg on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 (2pm - 4pm). Tickets will be available from March 8, 2026.
Admission to all tea dances is free of charge, with attendees encouraged to donate to the Mayor’s Charities at each event.
Concluding the Mayor said he was looking forward to welcoming everyone to what promises to be a series of enjoyable and memorable occasions for the local community.
For more information, please contact the Mayor's office at 02871376508 or via email at [email protected].
For tickets to the Alley Theatre event, please contact 02871384444.