Skip to main content

This content from the Department of Foreign Affairs has now moved to Ireland.ie. This page is no longer being updated.

Irish Music & Dance

Traditional and contemporary Irish music and dance remain very popular with the Irish diaspora.

In the last twenty years alone, Irish dance has been seen by more audiences worldwide than ever before due in part to the incredible Riverdance phenomenon.

Traditional Irish music and dance is supported by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann around the globe and the work they do internationally helps to keep these traditions alive.  With hundreds of branches worldwide Comhaltas provides classes, organises festivals, brings musicians and dancers on tour and publishes recordings, books and tutorials of traditional Irish music.

Ceiliúradh

During President Higgins’ State Visit to the Britain in April 2014, a specially commissioned musical celebration of cultural links between Ireland and Britain - Ceiliúradh – took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  This concert, commissioned by Culture Ireland, had a high-profile line-up. Through online and traditional broadcast it had a remarkable reach.