Thousands of Irish dancers from all over the world were in Ennis, Co Clare, yesterday to compete in the Olympics of Irish dancing.
Over the next week a specially built dome arena at Ennis's West County Hotel will see dancers compete for the honours in the 35th World Irish Dancing Championships.
Some 4,000 dancers have endured months of gruelling qualifying competitions around the world to take part in the week-long dancing extravaganza, which is costing more than €500,000 to stage.
The dancing started yesterday at 8am for girls and boys under-10 with chairman of the Commission of Irish Dancing Séamus Ó Sé saying: "This is the Olympics for Irish dancers. This is the pinnacle and is the ultimate aim of competitors to get to the top in their field."
Mr Ó Sé said that 50 per cent of the competitors in the championships now come from the United States, following in the dancing steps of Michael Flatley who won the boys' under-17 crown in 1975. He was the first US-based competitor to bring the title of All-World Irish Dancing Champion to the US.
President of the dancing commission Peter Smyth said: "This is one of Ireland's premier cultural events."
Mr Ó Sé added: "The numbers involved are growing all the time and the growth predated the show-dancing shows. We have people here this week competing from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa, along with competitors from Ireland, Britain and a number of European countries."
In the area off-stage where dancers were being put through their final steps by teachers, brothers Zack and Nate Klingenberg from Columbus, Ohio, were anxiously awaiting their turn to go on stage.
Zack, aged 12, said: "It is just a great honour to be here. It is a really cool experience to be involved in something so big, especially so young in your life to have all this under your belt."
Their mother, Julie Klingenberg, said: "We have just so much pride in the boys, they have worked really hard, I don't think people outside realise how great an experience it is to be involved."
Ms Klingenberg said the boys go to Irish dancing classes three nights a week and do 1½ hours dancing every other day.
"It takes a huge commitment. We have tried to back off a little; I'm sure they think I should make them practise more because they just love it."
Most US states are represented. These include Florida, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, California, Missouri and Wisconsin.
Traders in the area are doing a brisk business in fake tan, assorted wigs and dancing shoes.
Yesterday Dublin-born Derek Deans watched over his son Derek (11) as he prepared for his turn on stage.
Living in Portland, Oregon, Mr Deans said: "For your man there, this is the pinnacle where he will be going up against the best of the best.
"This is where it is all at, and he became interested in dancing after seeing Riverdance where he started prancing around the kitchen."
London-born Patrick Charles was at the competition yesterday to support his 10-year-old daughter, Ruth. He said some parents have a "win-policy" that places too much pressure on children.
