Dancers descend on Scottish event

Competition: Glasgow hosts Irish jig contest

It is one of the secret jewels in the Scottish artistic crown.

And there was a packed throng of participants and spectators for the All Scotland Championships in Irish Dance, which finished after four days of joyful competition at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall last night.

The event’s name might suggest it is restricted to Gaels and Celts, but not a word of it. On the contrary, world-class performers arrived from as far afield as the USA and Canada, New Zealand and Russia, South Africa and Australia, while the best exponents in their age groups, between the ages of four and 30, produced an exalted standard of dancing.

There were more than 1,800 competitors, representing over 250 dance schools, allied to a further 4,000 support staff and viewers of the packed programme.

The overall men’swinner was Josh Ruddoch from London. Nadine Martin from the Midlands triumphed in the women’s competition.

This was the eighth occasion that the championships had been staged in Glasgow and they have generated around £15million for the country’s economy in the process.

Yet, perhaps more importantly, the festival’s success has led to the organisers being offered the chance to stage the prestigious World Championships at the same venue in a month’s time.

James McCutcheon, the chairman of the championship, said last night he was delighted by the manner in which the event had unfolded.

“It was absolutely superb and the quality keeps getting higher”

He added: “It was absolutely superb and the quality of those involved just keeps getting higher and higher.

“It really is an international event and there were people from every part of the world here in Glasgow this week.

“We have different categories across all the age groups, but the strength in depth just keeps increasing.

“That isn’t surprising, mind you. Most of those whowill be defending their worldtitlenextmonthhave been performing in Glas- gow in days.”

The “Worlds” – the largest and most prominent Irish dancing contest – will feature nearly 15,000 participants and supporters. But this weekend’s

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f our frenzied jive of activity was no mere dress rehearsal for the main event.

As Cllr Frank McAveety, the leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “In Glasgow, we go above and beyond to deliver world-class events, whichiswhythe organisers choose to return.

“Irish dancing is a globally admired and historic part of Irish culture and Glasgow has earned the reputation as being its second home.”

DANCE DELIGHT: Thousands of spectators watched the event in Glasgow

Glasgow held the event for the eighth time