Rumours of cheating have swept Irish dancing competitions for years, a former world champion said yesterday.
Layla Healy spoke out after it was revealed a probe has been launched into allegations of rigging by sleazy judges. One claim centres on texts indicating even sexual favours were on offer.
Widespread assertions of mass “feis-fixing” have dogged the industry this week with Tanaiste Leo Varadkar claiming the scandal could cause “reputational harm” to Ireland.
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Layla said it was not the first time the rumours have circulated, although she did not address the allegations of sexual impropriety.
The former Irish Dancing World Champion, who has hung up her dancing shoes in recent years, added: “I am aware of this carrying on throughout the years.
“I started dancing at the age of four. Obviously, when you’re younger, you don’t really understand, it’s only when you have a goal and you’re working hard towards something and you’re seeing results that you deserve but you’re not getting.
“Favours is a big, big word that’s thrown around the place in the Irish dancing world.”
An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha, the prestigious body which oversees Irish dancing in this country and around the world, has appointed an ex-Court of Appeal judge to probe the claims. The Irish Mirror understands a trove of screenshots of text messages was handed to CLRG in July.
The conversations between 12 dance teachers were asking for or offering to “fix” the contests for competitors.
In one exchange, two instructors who act as judges on occasion appear to reference doing certain sexual acts in return for a high score.
No money is offered or exchanged directly but the more champions or wins a dance school has the more it can charge. A number of instructors reportedly implicated in the text messages were allegedly appointed adjudicators in subsequent competitions.
Irish dance teachers are known to judge major tournaments such as the All Irelands and the Worlds.
An estimated 10,000 children across the country are involved in the pastime and more than 2,500 youngsters recently attended the World Championships in Belfast. There is no suggestion any impropriety took place at that event.
Layla told RTE Liveline’s Joe Duffy: “You could have one judge judging the regionals and another judging the worlds and they could get in contact with each other and say, ‘Well I’ll give you said place if you bump my dancer up in this competition’.
“So in that way favours is a big, big thing in the Irish dancing world.”
Layla, from Wicklow, also revealed teachers and judges would openly mingle during competitions.
The top dancer, who has suffered from anxiety and depression since leaving the industry, said many youngsters make huge sacrifices in order to compete.
She added: “It’s so disheartening to see someone who has that goal, they’re literally shattered when they realise it’s not possible because these things are going on.” When asked what she would like to see come out of the probe, she said: “To be able to trust the CLRG and to go back to how it was before.
“It was as I was getting older and as the organisation grew bigger and bigger you could see these things developing. It’s very, very political.
“It’s our tradition, it’s our national dance, we should be able to go out there, show the talent and enjoy it again.”
Families fork out thousands of euro for flights, dance classes, costumes and accommodation to attend events.
When asked if the scandal could damage the reputation of Irish dancing, Mr Varadkar told reporters: “Potentially it does. That’s one of the reasons why it needs to be fully and thoroughly investigated.
“It could cause reputational harm but the solution is not to cover it up, it’s to deal with it, to investigate it properly and to hold people to account.”
The CLRG did not respond to questions by the Irish Mirror but a statement released on Tuesday said “unethical behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated by this organisation”.
It added: “Due to the potential extent of such allegations the services of an independent former judge of the Court of Appeal have been engaged to oversee and supervise the investigation.
“They will have full and open access to the resources and records of CLRG.
“The process will no doubt be difficult and arduous but this grossly unethical behaviour must be eliminated from
our competitions, dance schools and governing organisations.
“This process has already started and the principles of natural justice apply.”
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