City in a whirl as top Irish dancers arrive for contest

Local & National

Dancing for joy at the Waterfront Hall

Monday, March 24, 2008

Thousands of the world's finest Irish dancers toe-tapped their way into Belfast at the weekend for the World Irish Dancing Championships.

Over 4,000 competitors from as far afield as Australia and South Africa are taking part in the eight-day event at the Waterfront Hall.

Organisers say the public's response has been phenomenal, with a packed house expected every day this week.

It is the fourth time the world championships, in its 38th year, has been staged in Belfast with the main sponsor none other than Lord of the Dance, Michael Flatley.

The action got under way yesterday with separate competitions for boys and girls in the under 11 and 12 age groups.

Francis Curley, public relations officer for An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha who run the event, told the Belfast Telegraph the standard of this year's competition is one of the highest to date: "We have competitors from all over Ireland as well as France, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Russia, Poland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

"They all have to compete in regional events to get through to this level.

"This is the cream of the crop in the Irish dancing world."

Mr Curley said the Waterfront Hall was "excellent" as a venue for the event adding the championship would bring with it a substantial cash injection to the local economy.

"From the city's point of view it is fantastic," he said.

"Most people come over and stay for the full week benefiting shops, hotels and restaurants."

Twenty-three dancers from the An Daire Academy based in Oregon, USA, made the trip for the event.

Leader Jim Meuller said: "We came here just for the competition.

"This is our very first world and we are quietly confident of success."

Dubliner Tina Kenny's daughter Alex (11) has competed across Ireland, though this is the youngster's first shot at a world title.

Tina said she was very impressed by the organisation of the Belfast event.

"It's excellent, a lovely venue," she added.

Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers said it was a "great honour" to have the event staged in the city.

He said: "It is a great honour for the city of Belfast to be selected to act as the host for the fourth time in eight years - and what more fitting setting could there be than the magnificent Belfast Waterfront.

"By successfully bringing the championships to Belfast the city once again is proving that it is more than capable of staging high quality, world class events and of standing shoulder to shoulder with any other city in the world in so doing.

"An enormous amount of work has gone into ensuring that this event will be the success it undoubtedly deserves to be," the Lord Mayor added.