Irish Dancing Championships, Co. Clare 1985

Record number of entries for the All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships in Ennis. Over five thousand dancers battled it out over five days of competition in Ennis, County Clare. Oireachtas Rince na hÉireann is one of the major events in the Irish dancing calendar. Séamus Mac Conuladh describes it as the biggest Oireachtas yet in terms of the number of entries. Oireachtas Rince na hÉireann dates back to the turn of the century but has undergone a number of changes over the years. Controversially, some dancers slow down the music so they can fit in more intricate steps, which can result in a distortion of the original set dance tunes. Critics of the way Irish dancing has developed say there has been too much American influence taking from its traditional form. Séamus Mac Conuladh believes if something is alive, then it is subject to change but maybe the change is a little too fast. An RTÉ News report broadcast on 5 February 1985. The reporter is Michael Walsh.