The American Hoedowners, a group of 16 cloggers from Central Kentucky, leaves Monday for Ireland, where the troupe will dance over the next two weeks at two clogging festivals in the city of Cork.

The dancers will perform freestyle clogging, and half the dance troupe will do a specialty number in precision clogging, director Mike Cassidy said.

The Velvet Blue band from Central Kentucky will travel with the American Hoedowners to provide live music.

Dancers from nine countries will take part in the dance festivals. "We are going as goodwill ambassadors, to build better relations between countries through music and dance, Cassidy said.

To get ready for their first international appearance, the Hoedowners have practiced six hours a week since May 2011.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and the Kentuckians will take part in a special tribute to the Titanic in the village of Cobh, the ship's last port of call. Cassidy said the waltz was the last dance done on the Titanic. Two of his dancers will do a waltz in tribute to those who perished aboard the ship.

Beverly Fortune: (859) 231-3251. Twitter: @BFortune2010