"It's the biggest thing to happen to Irish Dancing since Riverdance" | Feis fixing scandal explained

Journalist Ellen Coyne joins Muireann and Tommy to discuss the Feis Fixing Scandal.
Ellen Coyne explains how she broke the story, telling Muireann and Tommy that:
"Around 10 o'clock at night I got this weird email from an anonymous account."
"We learned and reported that An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) had been handed these files in July which appeared to show a systemic cheating problem."
Former professional Irish dancer, Louise Hayden, tells them that there is a lot of anger in the Irish dancing community.
"So many people are scared to say things too loudly in case they have any fallback for it."
Two senior members of the CLRG have since resigned following the global scandal over alleged cheating.
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[@patrickhepburn7867]

Happy this came out. Even at local level I have seen judges not even looking at the dancers and certain dancers getting high scores and did not deserve it. This was in the 80's.

[@jmalexander131]

A year out, nothing meaningful has happened. The CLRG can not and will not rehabilitate itself.

[@scoutz0rs]

I got those screen caps sent to me too and wooooof. Makes me glad I was too injured to compete in championships. Unlike Olympic sports, Irish dance is insular and has no outsider audience. We have to hold each other accountable and clearly there’s a decades’ long problem. Also, I’ve been comparing modern Irish dance costumes to child pageants for years and it feels nice to hear someone say it on TV. My teacher hated all the fads and wigs and high bling, and that was 20+ years ago, before tans, Swarovski, and short skirts! Ugh, it takes all the folk tradition out. I don’t know if I would have been as interested in starting if it looked in the 90s like does today, and that breaks my heart.

[@Alittlepillowcompanyhome]

Thank you for talking about this. At its heart, ID is a truly magnificent, beautiful and joyful sport/dance/cultural art form but like all human endeavors, is also susceptible to manipulation when money and competition get involved. Having been a competitive dancer myself, I feel that the surge in popularity probably just outpaced the checks and balances that were in place while it existed at the more cultural-family feis level. It’s definitely not that anymore, at least with the CLRG, so clearly it’s time for a complete rethink as to how its competitions are handled. I fear if it’s not addressed thoroughly then this significant bit of internal “rot” will damage the future of Irish dance and discourage others from taking part. I used to think the competitive aspect of the dance form was the problem but with some distance and perspective I’ve changed my tune somewhat. Without the competition, I doubt the advanced techniques and stupendous flair would have emerged, both of which have help push it into the notice and respect of the wider world. Irish culture has been blessed by this lovely and dynamic sport and therefore it’s all the more important that regular house-cleaning take place to ensure its foundations remain clean and healthy. Again, thank you for bringing this topic into the open!

[@AnanasHasstra]

Irish Dancing is turning more and more into Figure Skating. Apart from the costumes.

[@spooktoken]

I never think im being judged fairly at a competition. Weather its a local feis or bigger competitions, costume makers even have their own schools. It makes you want to not do it anymore

[@connordavis6871]

I know it's a late reply, but I ended up quitting in 2023. I had won the ulsters in 2017 and was winning feises left right and centre. All of a sudden, through no fault of my own I was getting dropped for no apparent reason. I had other teachers and people coming up and saying I was robbed. I think this is a disgrace to the community.

[@spooktoken]

@@connordavis6871 I feel so sorry for you that that happened that you felt like you had to quit. It's sad that a passion of yours you ended up dropping because of others.❤️❤️

[@MultiMarty25]

You should quit it's a money racket scam.

[@spooktoken]

@MultiMarty25 I don't want to quit it's a hobby I have and I love my friends and I love to dance 😄

[@connordavis6871]

@@spooktoken the only reason I quit was because I knew that I should have been winning, if not getting a satisfactory result. However it just stopped happening, and it frustrated me as I did have parents of other dancers come up to me and say I was robbed

[@WilliamScavengerFish]

Any "sport" with judges isn't really a sport.

[@vjj1764]

I think that is a bit extreme.

[@caseycahlin]

Irish dancing is also rife with abuse, bullying, alcoholism and eating disorders.

[@davinathorne5215]

Nothing new there. Ireland as a country has a history of shame where abuse is concerned.

[@silverkitty2503]

It's not rife with eating disorders ...the girls are pretty healthy ..bullying yes ..abuse and alcoholism doubtful... the bodytype promoted is a healthy muscular and even curvy one.

[@spooktoken]

As an irish dancer I have never experienced abuse or alcoholism but definitely the bullying but I think that girl just had a problem

[@letitiakearney2423]

It’s saddens me to hear this but not surprised when you look at the bigger sports of ice skating and gymnastics all the fixing and bullying by coaches is horrendous not to mention eating disorders and drug abuse. I loved Irish dancing in my day but there was always the same prize winners back then too.

[@MultiMarty25]

@@caseycahlin probably is today.parents are to blame.CLRG are to blame for the fake tans,wigs everything they know it's wrong and said nothing cos there making millions totally totally corrupt!!!!

[@CB394]

I did it for 4 and a half years and was "too old" (read: too special needs and embarrassing) to dance at competition other than the class competition. My first teacher was evil. My second teacher ghosted me. I never had a wig because my hair is naturally curly and was permed when I was dancing. My dress was purple.

[@elizabeth10392]

My daughter danced for 15 years. Irish step dancing is a beautiful form of dance. It is also astronomically expensive. Ultimately, Irish dancing is folk dancing and should be available to everyone. How many stunning dancers never shine because their parents can't afford it. The Americans, unfortunately, have turned it into a kind of Texas beauty pageant for the wealthy. There is also a fair bit of favouritism and nepotism involved in some schools. The best dancers get way more attention and individual time during classes as well. If parents are paying equal tuition then each child should get equal time and attention. They don't. The lesser dancers get less and therefore are not taught to the best of their ability -in some schools, I don't know about all. You also get judges who are, for example, guests of the parents of one of the dancers and dancers who's parents were students of the judge...........I love the form of dance but I'm glad my granddaughter did not want to do it. Saves a lot of time, money and grief.

[@Sibbyym]

Also it’s crooked and take advantage of children

[@jinniroe5002]

So in Ireland they do Not use wigs, makeup, expensive costumes and fake tans? Really, the Americans?

[@elizabeth10392]

@@jinniroe5002 So at championships they use all those things, but they were introduced by the Americans. My daughter danced for 15 years in Australia and the wigs etc. etc. Etc. right down to the sock glue were and still used. Personally, I would like to see that "Texas Beauty Pageant" side of things disappear.

[@jinniroe5002]

Please do not blame Americans. What do you know about any beauty pagents in Texas? What they do in Ireland is their choice, no one elses. Ireland always looking to blame someone else.....

[@elizabeth10392]

@@jinniroe5002 Here's the thing. While Americans often don't know seem to know much about other countries, people in other countries know heaps about America. As to the beauty pageants in Texas, you only have to google the images to see the similarities in costume, make up, fake tan, wigs...... Unfortunately, Irish dancing has become too expensive for many ordinary people to afford and, given that it is ultimately a form folk dancing, I think that's a shame.

[@EricOwensFlute]

I sent a secret email to her in private drop box to tell her that my teacher was yelling at me but she just ignored me. Heartless.

[@Itsme-eo9hh]

Why worry? Most things in Ireland are dishonest

[@silverkitty2503]

lol

[@catherinegrace5174]

It's not just in Ireland, it was a big scandal in the US. So much bribery and cheating in the states

[@spooktoken]

Not true tbh

[@elizabeth10392]

Well there's a gross generalisation if ever there was!

[@spooktoken]

We're actually more brutally honest