Irish National Folk Company

In the last 39 years approx. 8000 teachers, dancers,students and group leaders from all over the World have come to participate in Summer Intensive Irish Dance, Culture and Heritage Courses organised by the Irish National Folk Company. For more information contact Frank Whelan at e.mail fwfolk@iol.ie

DANCE DIRECTOR ANGELINE WHELAN.

• Tel/Fax 00353 (0) 14933053
• Mobile 00353 (0)87 2415911

Click here for Summer Intensive Irish Dance Courses.

"Music Has No Borders"

The Irish National Folk Company and The Irish International Folk Company Ltd. was founded in 1970 by its founding director Frank Whelan.

It's main aim is to promote Irish and International dance and culture at home and abroad and to strengthen ties with all communities of the world by fostering a deeper understanding of Irish cultural heritage.

The Company is a non profit- making Government approved Arts and Cultural Organisation.

Since it's foundation the company have made over 180 international tours abroad, promoting and representing Ireland in 28 countries, this involved the training of over 4,000 dancers from all over Ireland and abroad. Many of Irelands most famous Irish dancers, World and All Ireland Champions have performed with the company over the years. Each year the company select the Irish International Folk Team from the best all-round talent available and the team come together several weekends of the year in St Enda's for team training and bonding.

The company have as a priority the education and development of youth and since 1971 the company have organised youth exchange cultural projects every year with other European countries especially Germany. Approx. 3000 young people have benefited from these cultural exchanges.

Apart from organising Irish Solo, Ceili and Set dancing courses it is also possible to learn and develop an understanding of the cultures of other lands.

The Research department, Archives and Library contains folk music and dance material from more than 53 countries.

Since 1971 over 8,000 Teachers, Dancers and group leaders have come to Ireland to attend workshops, seminars and cultural exchanges of the Irish National Folk Dance Company.

Since 1991 the company have their headquarters in St. Enda’s which was the college founded by Patrick Pearse leader of the Irish Revolution against Great Britain in 1916 and a great Irish cultural educationist.

St. Enda's which is located in Rathfarnham at the foot of the Dublin Mountains, a short journey south of the city, is set in 50 acres of beautiful gardens, parkland, rivers and walks and is a very important National Monument and a special shrine to Irish people all over the world.

The Irish National Folk Company have focused mainly on the development of dance and research in their 34 years of existence and provides a great variety of classes, workshops and seminars on Irish Dance.

Dance enthusiasts from all over the world come to attend special dance courses in all aspects of Irish dance with a good cultural social programme included for the visitors.

The company also specialise in running workshops abroad and to date have organised dance workshops in more than 26 countries.

All the dance company staff of teachers are very experienced and qualified and are representative of the different Irish dance styles and organisations.

The Company Offer

• Tailor made programmes for domestic and overseas groups
• Special seven day Irish dance programmes for visitors to Ireland, which include a full range of social and cultural activities
• Teacher Training Courses
• Weekend seminars on cultural and heritage topics
• Weekend training sessions for the International Folk Company whose members come from all over Ireland
• Workshops in international folk dance for teachers, group and youth leaders and students of folk dance.

St Enda's National Historic Park is well worth a visit, the number 16 and 16C buses from the city centre stops at the gates and the journey will take approx. 20 to 30 minutes.

The Aim of the Organisation is

1. To Promote Irish Culture at home and abroad
2. To enhance the overall image of Ireland in the world
3. To strengthen ties with all the communities of the world by fostering a deeper understanding of Irish Cultural Heritage
4. o contribute in conjunction with our partners in the European Community to the development of common cultural values and the European cultural identity
5. The promotion of Irish cultural and artistic activity throughout the world resulting in the enhancement of the prestige in which Ireland is held
6. To train, educate, promote and sponsor artists, dancers, musicians and dramatists, poets or students of all types of artistic endeavours and disciplines
7. To provide for, develop and encourage artistic expression, endeavours and productions and performances of cultural,artistic and educational value from Irish dancing, music and theatre, poetry and mime in Ireland and abroad.