ALL IRELAND’S

 Killarney, southwest Ireland.

The All Ireland Championships.

Nearly 4,000 dancers, from children to adults, chasing the title of the best Irish dancer.

I used to be one of them. Not on this level, but still with my own dress, wig, and spray tan, and even a few wins. I once lived inside that world; the training, the nerves, the spray tans and sequins. A strange mix of glamour and discipline.

What fascinates me now is the paradox. Irish dance has grown into a highly modern industry with its own economy of costumes, schools, and international competitions. Yet at its core, it still clings to something ancient, a symbol of Irishness that feels almost sacred.

This project is my return. A way of asking what dance means for identity, for belonging. Not just documentation, but an exploration of how tradition survives, transforms, and finds its place on the global stage.