IRISH DIVISION 2025
ADJUDICATOR: Anita Plaza, ADCRG, Brisbane
ENTRIES, VIA STARDOM, CLOSE MONDAY 16TH JUNE 2025 at Midnight
ENTRY FEES:
Solo $8.00 Reels in Couples $12.50 Ceili $15.00
This competition is registered with AIDA Inc. and with CLRG. Registration Number: 6708/25
This competition will be held on Sunday 21st September 2025 as part of the Townsville Eisteddfod being conducted from September 6th to 27th 2025.
Age Groups will be as follows:
Beginners 10 & under, 11 & over
Primary 11 & under, 12 & over
Intermediate 12 & under, 13 & over
Open 13 & under, 14 & over
If insufficient numbers are entered in each Section, Age Groups may be combined or altered.
Rules
1. In order for entries to be accepted:
a. Competitors must be pupils of teachers who at the date of entry are registered with CLRG for the year 2025, and who are financial members of AIDA Inc. for 2025;
b. Competitors must be fully registered with AIDA Inc. (fee paid and a completed 2025 National Pupil Registration Form submitted) by the official closing date of entries: 16 June 2025.
c. Competitors must not on the date(s) of their competition(s) be ineligible to compete due to any rule
d. Competitors must have been formally entered and entry fees paid in full by the official closing date
e. Teachers must not have any overdue monies owing to AIDA Inc.
Lodgement of Entries
2. The website for lodgement of entries is via Stardom (https://my.stardom.com.au). The website provides clear instructions on how to complete the lodgement process. All entries must be lodged through this website and full payment made by the official closing date. Payment must be made by credit card.
No entries can be lodged after this date.
3. Following lodgement through the website, an email confirming all entries submitted will be sent to the teacher and/or entrant.
4. It is the responsibility of the teacher to ensure the entry as submitted online is correct. On receipt of the confirmation email, names, dates of birth and spelling must be carefully checked. Information submitted at this point will be used in the official programme and on Certificates for this event.
5. Entries received after the official closing date will be treated as late and not accepted.
6. It is the responsibility of the teacher to check that any overseas dancers fall within the Rules of Entry. In the case of a non-permanent Australian resident, the teacher must provide proof of residency issued by the Australian Department of Immigration and provide copy of same to AIDA Inc. by the official closing date.
7. No refunds will be made for any entry money received.
Age Limits
8. Age of competitor will be taken as at 1st January, 2025. Where a competitor’s birth date falls on 1st January, he/she shall be regarded as under the age attained on that day. However, the upper Age limit for all competitors is Age 18 on or before the 31st December, 2025. Competitors who are not eligible for other Sections of the Eisteddfod are not eligible for Irish Sections.
9. Birth Certificates must have been sighted by each Regional Branch on Registration.
Prizes
10.Prizes will be awarded in each section in accordance with the Rules of AIDA Inc. and as determined at the annual convention.
Order of Dancing, Conduct and Mishaps
11. Competitors must:
a. Obey all instructions of the Organising Committee, otherwise permission to dance will be withdrawn;
b. Dance in numerical order as published in the official programme;
c. Acknowledge that TEI has the right to commence a section no more than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled commencement time;
d. With the exception of the first section of the day, be in costume and ready to dance not less than 30 minutes prior to the time scheduled for their section;
e. Present to the marshalling area when called by Stage Personnel. Sections will only be called for once.
12. Should a dancer lose a heel or a complete shoe or have an open lace, he/she may stand back, allowing the other dancer(s), where applicable, to continue dancing uninhibited. In such a case the dancer concerned will be permitted to re-dance as soon as it is deemed practicable by the stage personnel.
13. No liability is accepted by TEI for any injury caused to any person, including but not limited to, competitors, however caused and whether or not caused by the negligence or default of TEI, its servants or agents. The Lodgement of any entry will be deemed to be an acceptance of this provision.
14. Should a dancer fall on stage, whether in solos or in teams, the adjudicator MUST ring the bell to stop the performance of the dancer(s). Dancers so affected will be permitted to re-dance and will be marked then at the discretion of each individual adjudicator.
15. Should a dancer slip, bump into another dancer or have a costume malfunction whether in solos or in teams the bell will be rung at the discretion of the adjudicators to stop the performance of the dancer(s). Dancers so affected will be permitted to re-dance and will be marked at the discretion of each individual adjudicator.
16. If a dancer falls during the last 8 bars of any performance, then he/she will only be required to dance the last 16 bars of that dance again at a time convenient to both the dancers and the stage stewards.
17. A competitor must not walk off the stage during a performance unless instructed to do so by an adjudicator. A dancer who dismisses himself or herself from the stage, without the permission on an adjudicator, will not be marked for that particular dance.
18. If at any stage during a performance on stage an adjudicator feels that, due to the health and safety of a performer on stage that the performance should be stopped, the adjudicator must ring the bell.
19. Respect for fellow competitors on stage is a requirement at all times. Lack of respect or courtesy for fellow competitors by aggressive dancing on stage will be subject to penalty at the discretion of each individual adjudicator.
20. The starting number for each solo round will be determined prior to the commencement of the event and will be printed in the programme.
21. The light rounds from 13 years upwards will be danced 2 at a time and the heavy rounds will be danced 2 at a time from 15 years upwards. All other ages will dance 3 at a time, with the exception of the Heavy Round of the 7 & 8 years sections, which will be danced 2 at a time (if there are three dancers remaining at the end of these sections, they will dance 3 at a time).
22. In all competitions for Primary level upwards, all heavy dancing, ie Jig & Hornpipe, the Lead Round must be danced on both right & left foot.
23. All music is at set speeds and will be supplied by the Townsville Eisteddfod Committee.
Teachers and competitors must supply their own music to be used in Own Choice Set Dance, Reels in
Couples and Ceili Sections. Upload to Stardom with MP3. Bring USB as back-up. (See General Rule 5)
24. The Adjudicator’s decision is final. Protests, if any, must be submitted in writing and lodged with the executive member on duty, within thirty minutes of the case arising, accompanied by a fee of $10. If the protest is considered frivolous, the fee will be forfeited. The decision of the Management Committee will be final as outlined in General Rule 14.
25. In Ceili dancing Sections, steps will be as set down for 2025. With regard to Age of team members, these can be under the stated Age but not over. Each dancer can only dance in 1 team per Section.
Artificial carriage aids
26. In order to maintain the health and safety of all dancers, artificial carriage aids are not permitted. All dancers lining up side stage prior to any round at any competition will be required to perform the simple exercise of raising their arms to shoulder level unhindered. If unable to do this by the time of their rotation due to costume stitching or arm attachments, these competitors will not be permitted to perform.
Make-Up and Costume Rules
27. All competitors are to abide by the Rules Regarding Make-up and Costume Rules as set out by the CLRG.
Adjudicators who determine a costume to be too short or to lack modesty, may ask a competitor to change into black tights (of a denier no less than 70) in order for the dancer to continue in the competition.
Ceili Dancing
28. The required dances for each competition are set out as at 2025.
29. These rules and directives must be read in conjunction with the general rules and other relevant sections of this syllabus and those contained in the 2025 World Championships Syllabus.
30. The number of teams to be entered in each event must be submitted by the official closing date of entries.
31. All ceili teams entered as Teams A, B, C, etc., must dance in the position in which they are balloted and the composition of the whole team cannot be changed after the entry has been submitted.
32. An emergency is defined as an event which happens either within seven (7) days immediately preceding the first day of the competition or during the course of the competition. A formal application must be made in writing to an Executive member of the Organising Committee and the medical emergencies must be accompanied by a medical certificate. In the event of an unforeseen emergency, the acceptance of the written application will be determined by the Organising Committee.
33. The borrowing of dancers for any feiseanna in Australia will not be allowed, except in the case of an emergency that occurs during the event.
i. Note: borrowed dancers may only be utilised if a teacher cannot fill from their own school.
ii. Note: bear in mind the Association Rule if a dancer is borrowed from another school unless it is during the event in which case the Rule does not apply.
34. In the event of an emergency or extenuating circumstance prior to the commencement of the
competition regarding the replacement of a dancer not within the rules, members need to apply in writing to council with all appropriate documentation.
Note: the Choreography age restrictions can be waived to allow a younger dancer to be utilised from
within the same school on the proviso that the dancer has not competed in choreography.
35. Dances must be performed in accordance with the latest edition of Ar Rinci Ceili, unless otherwise indicated in the directive on ceili dances published by An Coimisiun. Movements and figures must be performed in the order specified and the dancers must move in the manner stipulated. Where neither Ar Rinci Ceili nor the directive specifies how a particular movement should be performed, the teacher may use his/her/discretion with regard to interpretations. Unnecessary embellishments must be avoided.
36. A team in a competition for ceili or figure dancing may include dancers who are under the age limit stipulated for the competition subject to conditions 45-49.
37. Where the number of under aged dancers allowed dance in the higher age group exceeds 50% in ceili of 50% in figure, only 50% in ceili or 50% in figure may also compete in teams in the lower age group.
38. The members of a team must be the pupils of the same school.
Own Choreography Reel in Couples, Four, Six or Eight Hand
39. Adjudicators will be briefed on the relevant rules of the competition prior to commencement of these sections.
40. Dance must comprise of a maximum 72 bars (not including introduction) of reel music.
41. No story allowed, either read or sung.
42. Inappropriate, offensive provocative, violent or explicit sexual content must not be included.
43. The dance must be performed in team costume.
44. Teachers are permitted to use pre-recorded accompaniment for Choreography Sections. Where a team opts to use pre-recorded accompaniment, the teacher must comply with all rules pertaining to same.
45. Each team member should dance continuously for the duration of the dance.
46. Pauses found in ceili dancing permitted.
47. Steps are permitted if desired.
48. The throwing of a dancer of any form of acrobatics including, but not limited to somersaults, backward and forward rolls, handstands etc. are strictly prohibited.
49. Dance must be performed in light shoes.
AIDA Inc. Photography Policy
Any form of unauthorised photography which has the capability to capture a dancer’s image whilst in motion, using electronic or manual means (e.g. mobile, phone, standard camera, video camcorder, commercial film), with or without enhancement is expressly forbidden.
The Townsville Eisteddfod Inc will appoint an official photographer for the entire event. Such photographs and videos may be subsequently used for the marketing and promotional purposes of TEI including the publication of such photographs on the official website and TEI social media channels. Should any dancer of dancer’s parent or guardian wish to be excluded from any of these photographs, please ensure the correct boxes are ticked on the entry last page on Stardom.
TEI may also appoint other agents during the course of the competition for special promotional projects and reserves the right to permit suitably accredited photo-journalists from local newspapers and television stations to take photographs of the event on a case by case basis.
Please note: Other than the photographs taken by persons as set out in the above, any other photographs may only be taken at the Award ceremony and may only be taken for personal use. All photographs captured may not be sold, subject to any form of payment, or used for commercial purposes. Photographs may not be published or posted on any website or used in any publication without the express written permission of TEI.
Professional Photography Equipment will not be permitted inside the competition rooms with the exception of individuals who have a valid TEI photo pass issued and authorised by TEI.
TEI reserves the right to remove any person found to be ignoring or failing to comply with these rules from the event.
IRISH AWARDS
BURSARY: Any Townsville competitor aged 13 and over who, in the opinion of the Adjudicator, shows the most potential.
AWARDS:
· Most promising dancer in Beginner and Primary Sections.
· Encouragement: Any Level