The world of Irish dancing has been rocked by allegations that judges were bribed, often with sexual favors, to fix competitions.
Press leaks of explosive texts accuse up to a dozen Irish dance teachers and judges of conspiring to award podium finishes to particular students in the All-Ireland Championships and qualifying rounds.
In one discussion, a judge informs a teacher that “other kinds of praise” are acceptable, to which the teacher responds, “If you can get that student to first place, you can have everything you want ;)”
The judge also asks, “Have you not yet entered my chambers?”
Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister, has now demanded a comprehensive probe into the charges of competition manipulation, citing the risk to Ireland’s reputation.
Text conversations between teachers whose students were competing in an Irish dancing tournament and judges appear to indicate that they rigged the competition, maybe in exchange for sexual favors.
In the extremely competitive world of Irish dancing, schools from around the globe compete for prizes, with those who win being allowed to charge more for enrollment (file image of Irish dancing contest)
An Irish dance instructor from the east coast of the United States forwarded these and dozens of other communications to the Irish dancing regulating organization, An Coimisin Le Rinc Gaelacha (CLRG).
The whistleblower, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated that she wants to expose what she perceives to be the manipulation of competitions, which makes it impossible for certain dance schools to compete.
She informed the Irish Daily Mail that she is unable to comment as long as the investigation is ongoing.
In total, the whistleblower has provided screenshots of twelve WhatsApp chats in which Irish dancing instructors requested a fix in key contests.
The WhatsApp exchanges reveal that a teacher provided the judge with her niece’s name and competition number and requested a high score. She then reveals that she has another dancing niece.
“How effin’ many nieces do you have?” While deciding to grant them a good grade, the judge inquires.
It is alleged that match-fixing happened in both the Republic and Northern Ireland during All-Ireland Championships and qualifying rounds.
Texts such as this one appear to demonstrate that teachers at an Irish dancing school colluded with judges to get contests involving their students decided by favorable panels.
Several teachers request favorable judges to attend dance competitions in which their children or students are competing.
A judge is accused of sending text messages to a dancing instructor during the All-Ireland Championship.
A teacher at the competition inquires of the judge, “Are you judging boys under 12?” If you are, he’s [dancer’s competition number]. Thank you x.’
The judge responds, “Yes, I understand.”
The following day, the instructor receives another request: “Hiya. Have a really good u14 girl, competition number [number]. Could be podium. Have an u15 girl who must qualify for [competition number].’ The judge gives this a ‘thumbs up’ symbol.
The next day, the instructor receives yet another request: “Have my babies dance tomorrow, u16.” My son *****, [son’s competition number], would be overjoyed to receive a medal. **** is [competition number] and would love to be in the top three.
The judge responds, “I’m on my own.”
The instructor says, “Jesus.” I am so f***ed with you and [another favorable judge] regarding solos.
Another educator provided a judge with photographs of two of her students so that the judge could identify them. “U11 Girls tomorrow. I don’t have [competition] figures because I won’t be there till the morning. The names are [first name and surname] and [first name and surname].
The judge’s response includes a winking emoticon.
Another teacher asks for a high grade for his students and for the judge to assign additional favorable judges to the same competition.
After a judge handed one of his students a good grade, the teacher wrote, “Thanks for today.” Do you know your plans for tomorrow? If you are on [child’s name], please do all you can for Xxx.’
The judge responds, “I understand.”
The instructor then inquires, “Are you in the 18s?” When the court affirms that they are, the instructor responds, “Thank God!!! Who else is present? Is it bad?’
The judge inquires, “Who do you desire?”
The instructor then lists four judges he does not approve of.
The judge responds that the teacher will not have the first judge on the list, but the second is uncertain.
Another judge informs a teacher that they “welcome alternative kinds of appreciation,” to which the instructor responds, “If you can convince [redacted] to give [redacted] First anything You desire ;),”
The same judge also asks, “Have you not yet visited my chambers?”
A whistleblower on the East Coast of the United States has forwarded leaked text conversations to an investigation in Ireland, which has been requested by deputy prime minister Leo Varadkar.
In April of this year, children competed in the World Irish Dancing Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland, amidst suspicions that judges and teachers fixed the competition.
The CLRG has engaged a former Court of Appeal judge to investigate what it refers to as “individuals giving various inducements to propel dancers to a higher-than-deserved placing at specific events.”
On its website, the commission has published a statement describing the investigation. An Coimisin stated in a statement, “This organization cannot and will not allow such unethical behavior.”
The CLRG organizes regional and national championships in Ireland, as well as the World Irish Dancing Championships, which attracted 3,500 dancers to Belfast in April. There are qualifiers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
The Tanaiste stated yesterday that the charges are “very worrisome and cause for great concern” I feel it should be thoroughly explored.
It must be thoroughly investigated so that we can determine the truth, and if any wrongdoing has occurred, those responsible must be held accountable.
He stated that he would need to consult with other ministers to determine whether the government had a role in an investigation.
“It could potentially cause reputational damage, but the solution is not to cover it up; rather, it is to deal with it, examine it thoroughly, and hold those responsible accountable,” he said.
His remarks raise the potential of a government-led investigation into competitive manipulation.
After charges of competition manipulation inside the CLRG surfaced this week, the Minister of the Arts, Catherine Martin, stated that she would write to the organization to “request assurances.”
Ms. Martin expressed her support for an investigation into the charges.
She stated, “I think it’s really essential that a retired judge is reviewing these things, which I find very encouraging.”
I will also be writing to the affected organization to get assurances that they are taking every necessary measure to restore families’ faith that their children and young people are being treated fairly.