Set dancing the reel deal in helping Parkinson’s patients

It’s great to see traditional Irish music finding its place in the world of science and medicine renowned fiddler, Martin Hayes said yesterday after a group of Italian and Irish people with Parkinson’s disease thrilled a crowd at a packed Feakle Community Centre by set dancing to a few reels.

The one-day health conference in the Co Clare village took place three years after Italian neurologist Daniele Volpe by chance discovered the therapeutic effects of Irish set dancing on those diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder.

Consultant neurologist Timothy Lynch yesterday said: “You couldn’t make it up — an Italian dude comes to Feakle playing guitar in a session and goes back to Venice to set up Irish dancing therapy for Parkinson’s patients.”