Irish Dancing: From Feis to Folk

The Irish have always loved dancing. Performed to traditional music at crossroads, village greens, or barns, dancing was central to community life and enjoyed by everyone. Made famous by the show ‘Riverdance’ (1994), Irish dancing has evolved greatly over the past century.

This exhibition explores the rich and varied traditions of Irish dance, from the competitive feis style known around the world to the festival or folk tradition found mainly in Ulster. Featuring feis and festival Irish dance costumes, objects connected to the influential Lambeg Irish Folk Dance Society, and a screening of the acclaimed documentary ‘Steps of Freedom’ (2022), the exhibition highlights the people, places, music, and movement that have shaped Irish dancing across generations.