Yep. You read that headline correctly. The world of Irish dancing is being rocked by a competition fixing scandal.
Allegations were reported on Wednesday that suggested major competitions had been fixed over the past few years, and the Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha have now announced a full investigation.
Irish Dancing body to investigate fixing allegations
This will be Ireland's Calciopoli. We thought things like this only happened in Italian football, but no. Irish dancing has fallen foul of fixing.
Reports this week suggested that serious allegations had been made against "well regarded" Irish dancing teachers and students, who were accused of fixing Irish dancing competitions in favour of their own students.
The Independent reported on Wednesday that screenshots were handed over to the Coimisiún Le Rinci Gaelacha (CLRG), allegedly showing 12 Irish dance teachers appearing to ask for competitions to be fixed, or offering to fix comepetitions. It is unclear if all of the teachers were based on the island of Ireland.
The CLRG commented on the allegations in a statement earlier this week. It said:
In July 2022 an Coiste Faire (CLRG Ethics Committee) received allegations, with supporting documentation, of several grievous breaches of our Code of Conduct.
Such unethical behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated by this organisation.
Due to the potential extent of such allegations - and to ensure fairness, transparency and thoroughness - the services of an independent former judge of the Court of Appeal have been engaged to oversee and supervise the immediate investigation into these matters. 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.
An Coimisiún regards such breaches to be Gross Misconduct. Any registered member found to be engaged in such practices will be subject to due and full process under our published Disciplinary Procedures as can be found here.
This process has already started and the principles of natural justice apply. To ensure the integrity of the process and until it is complete, no further comments will be made.
The allegations are severe, and could have major implications for the world of Irish dancing.
Nonetheless, this is not a story we expected to hear this week. It comes in the same week as a cheating scandal rocked the world of competitive fishing, in a bizarre week for obscure competitive scandals.
Naturally, many Irish people took to Twitter to make the same "the jig is up" joke in the aftermath of the news surrounding Irish dancing.
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