‘Touring is still the dream for most dancers’: Life as a competitive Irish dancer 

From the bling of the stage to the buzz of UCC campus life, 21-year-old Emer Conway is balancing civil engineering exams with a competitive Irish dance career that’s already seen her place 29th in the world in her age category.

Emer, from Ballincollig, says. “I started dancing when I was four. My mum, Eithne, put me into a few different activities - GAA, tennis, swimming, horse riding - but dancing just stuck. I had to pick between dancing and horse riding when I was about 10 or 11, and I picked dancing. I’ve never looked back.”

Emer trains with Troy-O’Herlihy School of Irish Dancing, which has its bases in Ballincollig, Ovens, and Wilton.

“They’ve been with me since I was tiny. Nancy Troy O’Herlihy started the school, and her daughters Anne and Elaine have been teaching me since. They’re practically my second family - doing our hair, bringing us to competitions, helping us pick costumes. They’re incredible.”

Irish dance has taken Emer across the country and beyond.

This year’s World Championships were held in Dublin, where she placed 29th out of more than 90 dancers in her age category (21–23).

“It was my fifth time qualifying, but only my third time actually dancing at the Worlds.

“I missed one because of covid, and another because I tore my Achilles tendon. That happened on stage at the All-Irelands in Killarney. I was gutted. But I was back dancing within months.”

Emer is quick to credit her community.

“My friends are a huge reason I’m still dancing. I think they really kept me in it.

She describes the commitment: “We train three times a week, two hours each session. And in the lead-up to majors Munsters, All-Irelands, Worlds there’s a competition every second weekend. It’s like GAA in that way.

“You have to stay match-fit. If you’re not regularly dancing on stage, you lose the rhythm, the nerves get to you.”

Qualification for the Worlds isn’t guaranteed. Dancers must place in one of the majors to be eligible. Emer qualified in all three.

“Nationals in September, Munsters in November, and All-Irelands in February. You only need one to qualify, but they’re good prep. You want to be peaking for the Worlds.”

What’s next? The bright lights of Riverdance or Lord Of The Dance might be calling.

“I auditioned for both last weekend,” she says, mentioning she was one of 500 hopefuls. “It’s still the dream for most dancers. Tour when you’re young, then go on to teach. Your legs won’t hold up forever.”

The auditions, however, are shrouded in mystery.

“They don’t tell you much. You don’t know how many places there are or what happens next. They’ve their main casts and then extras. Some people are called on to tour for months, others might just slot in if someone gets injured.”

She laughs when asked if she’s ready to jet off. “Honestly, I did the audition more for the experience. I probably wouldn’t take time off college unless something really amazing came up.”

Emer is studying civil engineering at UCC.

“I’ve always liked maths,” she says simply. “There is a one year integrated Master’s after the four-year degree. I’ll do that if I can. Unless I end up dancing around the world!”

There’s an undeniable resurgence in Irish culture at the moment, and Emer is feeling it too.

“There’s this new app for Irish dancing music called Feis App - I use it more than Spotify. And yeah, the Irish language is huge in our world. At the Worlds, announcements are made in both Irish and English. You’ve Americans, Canadians, Aussies - loads of them know cúpla focal. The organisers really push it. They’ll project basic Irish on screens - Dia dhuit, Conas atá tú - it all adds up.”

She’s noticed the change in the music too.

“Trad is becoming more mainstream. And Irish dancing has definitely made me more interested in the language and the culture overall.”

When it comes to style, Emer says the scene is still big on wigs, tan, and sequins.

“It’s even blingier now than when I started. My costume is heavy enough - it depends how many stones you’ve got sewn on!”

The arms still stay by the sides - mostly.

“We’re starting to use arms in some group dances now. It takes getting used to, but it’s fun. Michael Flatley’s Lord Of The Dance wants people to be more creative, and I get that.”

Asked if she breaks into jigs when she hears music in a nightclub, she laughs.

“Not really. I don’t have much interest in other kinds of dancing. Irish is my thing.”