World-class dancers put in the work in Templeport

The dancers at Rinceoirí Ceolmhar shook the floor with effort during their practice at Templeport Community Centre last Friday night.

The group have both individuals and teams competing in this year's World Irish Dance Championships to take place in Dublin this April, so training has an increased focus.

WATCH: Rinceoirí Ceolmhar dancers training for the World Championships.

The atmosphere is intense. As teacher Clare McDermott watches the perfected drills, sweat dripped down her students' faces as they maintained poker-straight posture and performed exemplary footwork, all with a pleasant smile.

The under 11 and the under 16 teams will dance before judges at the 2025 worlds, while individuals have also qualified for the prestigious competition. The school has dancers attending from both Cavan and Fermanagh.

“Such a buzz”

Teacher Clare, who began dancing age three, has danced competitively and toured with Lord of the Dance before beginning her teaching career a decade ago.

“I absolutely love teaching, it's such a buzz. You come in here and whether it's a beginner or kids going to the World Championships you get such a buzz out of it,” she said.

Her own students start age three or four as beginners and work their way through the grades, while “some don't go to competitions at all” and “develop” their love of Irish dancing.

Others though have been recognised on the world stage.

“At this older class or at the more experienced class we have kids who are training for the upcoming All Ireland Championships,” she explains of the competition taking place in Killarney in February.

“We have a wide range, from beginner to world championship level. There is lots and lots of talent.”

Teams

Aside from individual dancers, this is the first year that teams from the school will be entered into the competition.

“We need to get costumes and with that comes an awful lot of expense,” she said, outlining how the parents have helped fundraise, with a raffle of over 60 prizes from local businesses who rowed in with support.

Clare said competitions are just “one element” of the dance, while many don't see the work that goes on behind the scenes, she witnesses it first-hand several times per week.

“The kids who are competing at the World Championship level, they train so so hard,” she said, describing how they have classes three to four times per week, but also practice at home, go to strength and conditioning and stretch “every morning” before school.

“They really are elite athletes and they're all only children, so you just have to admire the work and preparation that goes into it.

“We're so so proud of those kids, we don't have to tell them to practice, they're so disciplined and I think it leads into every aspect of life.

“They work so hard and it's just a credit to them and their parents.”

Love

Aoife Donohoe from Killeshandra felt “really excited” when she qualified for the world competition. She will dance with the under eleven team.

“I love dancing because I get to meet new friends, even over the winter it's more fun because we have no other sports on,” she said.

Sofia Bradley from Enniskillen told the Celt she trains “every day of the week” and goes to personal training sessions once per week.

Dancing solo and as part of the under fourteen team at this year's world competition, Sofia started dancing when she was five years old.

“I love dancing because of all the friends you make and the competitiveness in Irish dancing.

“Irish dancing is a hard sport, you need to have a lot of determination to be good at it.”

She said it meant “a lot” to her and “especially” her teachers and parents when she qualified to dance on the world stage.

“I feel very happy and excited, and I think I'm going to do well this year,” she said.