World Irish Dancing Championships hit Belfast

Over 4,000 Irish dancers have descended on Belfast to take part in the 36th Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, or World Irish Dancing Championships in the Waterfront Hall.

The event was last staged in Belfast in 2004 and began yesterday and will last until Sunday April 16.

Around 2,000 solo competitors and 2,000 team dancers will take part in this eight-day programme, made up of 35 competitions across age groups from under 11s to 21 years and over.

Over half the competitors at this year’s event will be from outside Ireland and in total, there will be 314 schools of dance and 11 different countries represented during the competition.

Speaking recently, Belfast City Council Events Manager, Gerry Copeland welcomed, once again the cream of the world’s Irish dancers to Belfast.

He said: “When the Championships last came to the City, two years ago, it was the biggest event in Oireachtas history: we are looking forward to repeating that success, by hosting a competition that is bigger and better than ever before - and especially to our own dancers not only competing with the best in the world but once again keeping many titles at home.”

On a recent visit to Belfast to announce details of the 2006 Competition, Seamus ó Sé, one of the events organisers, said that the World Irish Dancing Championships are very much the highlight of the year for all Irish dancing enthusiasts across the globe.

He said: “On the two previous occasions on which the Oireachtas has been held in Belfast - in 2000 and again in 2004 – they were truly memorable experiences: Belfast provided us with both a magnificent venue and an unforgettable welcome."

He added that they were looking forward not only to repeating that experience but also in surpassing it.

The Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne was first held in 1970 and this years Championships is expected to be the biggest yet, with competitors from as far afield as North America, Australasia and all parts of the British Isles.

(EF)