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Irish Dancing Videos: 14 of the Best, from Riverdance to Viral Flash Mobs

By: Author Irish Around The World

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In short: the best Irish dancing videos online, from Riverdance’s first performance at Eurovision in 1994 to flash mobs, viral TikTok crews, a groom who stole his own wedding and the Gardaí dancing across Ireland.

Irish dancing has come a long way from the parish hall. Since Riverdance burst onto the world stage in 1994, it has turned up everywhere from airports and shopping centres to talent shows and TikTok, and new crews keep finding fresh ways to mix it with pop, hip hop and even classical music.

We have been sharing Irish dancing videos on Irish Around The World for years, and these are the ones our readers keep coming back to. Grab a cuppa, turn the sound up and enjoy.

The videos at a glance

  1. Riverdance at Eurovision, Dublin, 1994
  2. Michael Flatley’s Greatest Moments
  3. A St Patrick’s Day Flash Mob in Sydney
  4. An Irish Dancing Flash Mob at London Southend Airport
  5. Irish Dancers Surprise the Judges on Britain’s Got Talent
  6. The Galway Girls Dancing to Ed Sheeran
  7. Irish Dancers Take Over New York City Landmarks
  8. Street Dancing in Temple Bar, Dublin
  9. Prodijig Dance to Vivaldi’s ‘Winter’
  10. Cairde: The Galway Lads Who Went Viral on TikTok
  11. Slide Step: Irish Dance Meets Hip Hop
  12. The Groom Who Irish Danced at His Own Wedding
  13. The Gardaí Take On the Jerusalema Challenge
  14. And Finally: The Dancing Irish Parrot

1. Riverdance at Eurovision, Dublin, 1994

Where it all started. Riverdance was first performed as the seven-minute interval act at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin on 30 April 1994, led by Jean Butler and Michael Flatley to music by Bill Whelan. Nobody watching that night had seen Irish dancing like it: arms still, feet flying, a whole line moving as one. It became a full stage show within a year and has toured the world ever since.

2. Michael Flatley’s Greatest Moments

The Chicago-born dancer who made Irish dance a global arena show, first with Riverdance and then with his own Lord of the Dance. This official compilation from the Lord of the Dance channel is a good crash course in why he became the most famous Irish dancer of all time.

3. A St Patrick’s Day Flash Mob in Sydney

A St Patrick’s Day flash mob of Irish dancers in Sydney, posted by Tourism Ireland’s Discover Ireland channel. A reminder of just how big St Patrick’s Day is in Australia, where Irish dancing schools are everywhere.

4. An Irish Dancing Flash Mob at London Southend Airport

Airport arrivals halls are not usually this much fun. This flash mob was put on by Aer Lingus Regional and London Southend Airport in Essex to celebrate the Irish connection.

5. Irish Dancers Surprise the Judges on Britain’s Got Talent

A 2014 Britain’s Got Talent audition by a group of Irish dancers who give the traditional style a modern twist the judges did not see coming. Official clip from the show’s channel.

6. The Galway Girls Dancing to Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran’s ‘Galway Girl’ was everywhere in 2017, and this crew of Irish dancers answered with a routine of their own that went viral. Posted by Fusion Fighters, the dance company behind several of the clips on this list.

7. Irish Dancers Take Over New York City Landmarks

Fusion Fighters again, this time dancing their way around New York City landmarks. A brilliant way to see the city, and a showcase of how far modern Irish dance has moved from the feis hall.

8. Street Dancing in Temple Bar, Dublin

The Fusion Fighters crew performing on the streets of Temple Bar in Dublin. If you have ever been there on a busy evening, you will recognise the atmosphere instantly.

9. Prodijig Dance to Vivaldi’s ‘Winter’

Irish dancing meets baroque. Prodijig set a hard-shoe routine to Vivaldi’s ‘Winter’ from The Four Seasons, and the precision is remarkable. Proof that Irish dance works to just about any music with a strong beat.

10. Cairde: The Galway Lads Who Went Viral on TikTok

Cairde (Irish for ‘friends’) are a group of Irish dancers led by Galway man Ronan O’Connell. They built a huge following on TikTok during 2020 and 2021, with one video passing tens of millions of views, and were soon being booked on breakfast television. Here they are on ITV’s This Morning for St Patrick’s Day.

11. Slide Step: Irish Dance Meets Hip Hop

Dublin company Slide Step have been mixing Irish dance with street and contemporary styles since 2013, and are a popular booking for weddings and corporate events. This showreel gives you a flavour.

12. The Groom Who Irish Danced at His Own Wedding

There is something magical about an Irish wedding, and this one went viral with millions of views on Facebook. The groom and his groomsmen perform a full routine, and the howls from the guests are the best part. Don’t let the slow start fool you.

13. The Gardaí Take On the Jerusalema Challenge

In early 2021, Swiss police challenged An Garda Síochána to take part in the Jerusalema dance challenge. The Gardaí answered with a video shot at some of Ireland’s most beautiful locations, featuring a cracking burst of Irish dancing from Cork Garda Mary Gardiner.

14. And Finally: The Dancing Irish Parrot

Our own most-watched clip. We cannot promise the parrot has any formal training, but the rhythm is undeniable.

Honourable mentions

  • The Riverdance world record: in 2013, around 1,700 dancers in Dublin set a Guinness World Record for the longest Riverdance line.
  • Stavros Flatley: the father-and-son comedy act whose spoof of Michael Flatley was a much-loved Britain’s Got Talent audition in 2009.
  • Riverdance on ice: figure skater Jason Brown’s Riverdance routine went viral in 2014.

Featured photo: Irish dancers on stage by Jonjobaker, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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14 of the best Irish dancing videos, from Riverdance at Eurovision 1994 to viral flash mobs

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