During the weekend of November 17th, 18th, and 19th, over 2,500 competitive Irish Dancers ages 6 and up from all over the region gathered in Hartford, CT for the 2023 New England Oireachtas. The Gaelic word “Oireachtas” translates to “annual assembly” and is used by the Irish Dance community to signify major annual competitions around the world. The New England Oireachtas is the primary competition and qualifying event for Irish Dancers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. For some, the Oireachtas is the primary opportunity to qualify for the World Irish Dance Championship, held each year in April. For others, the Oireachtas is a time to showcase and celebrate their improvement in the sport of Irish Dance.
The CT Shoreline is home to the world-renowned Gray School of Irish Dance. This year, the Gray School had 14 competitors compete at the New England Oireachtas. Please join us in congratulating the following dancers from our community on their successes this year!