"It's the biggest thing to happen to Irish Dancing since Riverdance" | Feis fixing scandal explained 

A year out, nothing meaningful has happened. The CLRG can not and will not rehabilitate itself.

Happy this came out. Even at local level I have seen judges not even looking at the dancers and certain dancers getting high scores and did not deserve it. This was in the 80's.

I got those screen caps sent to me too and wooooof. Makes me glad I was too injured to compete in championships. Unlike Olympic sports, Irish dance is insular and has no outsider audience. We have to hold each other accountable and clearly there’s a decades’ long problem. Also, I’ve been comparing modern Irish dance costumes to child pageants for years and it feels nice to hear someone say it on TV. My teacher hated all the fads and wigs and high bling, and that was 20+ years ago, before tans, Swarovski, and short skirts! Ugh, it takes all the folk tradition out. I don’t know if I would have been as interested in starting if it looked in the 90s like does today, and that breaks my heart.

Thank you for talking about this. At its heart, ID is a truly magnificent, beautiful and joyful sport/dance/cultural art form but like all human endeavors, is also susceptible to manipulation when money and competition get involved. Having been a competitive dancer myself, I feel that the surge in popularity probably just outpaced the checks and balances that were in place while it existed at the more cultural-family feis level. It’s definitely not that anymore, at least with the CLRG, so clearly it’s time for a complete rethink as to how its competitions are handled. I fear if it’s not addressed thoroughly then this significant bit of internal “rot” will damage the future of Irish dance and discourage others from taking part. I used to think the competitive aspect of the dance form was the problem but with some distance and perspective I’ve changed my tune somewhat. Without the competition, I doubt the advanced techniques and stupendous flair would have emerged, both of which have help push it into the notice and respect of the wider world. Irish culture has been blessed by this lovely and dynamic sport and therefore it’s all the more important that regular house-cleaning take place to ensure its foundations remain clean and healthy. Again, thank you for bringing this topic into the open!

Irish Dancing is turning more and more into Figure Skating. Apart from the costumes.

I never think im being judged fairly at a competition. Weather its a local feis or bigger competitions, costume makers even have their own schools. It makes you want to not do it anymore

I did it for 4 and a half years and was "too old" (read: too special needs and embarrassing) to dance at competition other than the class competition. My first teacher was evil. My second teacher ghosted me. I never had a wig because my hair is naturally curly and was permed when I was dancing. My dress was purple.

Any "sport" with judges isn't really a sport.

Irish dancing is also rife with abuse, bullying, alcoholism and eating disorders.

I sent a secret email to her in private drop box to tell her that my teacher was yelling at me but she just ignored me. Heartless.

My daughter danced for 15 years. Irish step dancing is a beautiful form of dance. It is also astronomically expensive. Ultimately, Irish dancing is folk dancing and should be available to everyone. How many stunning dancers never shine because their parents can't afford it. The Americans, unfortunately, have turned it into a kind of Texas beauty pageant for the wealthy. There is also a fair bit of favouritism and nepotism involved in some schools. The best dancers get way more attention and individual time during classes as well. If parents are paying equal tuition then each child should get equal time and attention. They don't. The lesser dancers get less and therefore are not taught to the best of their ability -in some schools, I don't know about all. You also get judges who are, for example, guests of the parents of one of the dancers and dancers who's parents were students of the judge...........I love the form of dance but I'm glad my granddaughter did not want to do it. Saves a lot of time, money and grief.

Why worry? Most things in Ireland are dishonest