COMPETITION RULES 2024

• The Feis will run in accordance with the Rules of An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha.
• Entries will only be accepted from persons currently registered with An Coimisiún.

GRADE COMPETITION RULES

1. Beginners Grade competitions are confined to dancers who have never won 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd prize (please refer to the grid) in any competition for that particular dance.

2. In Beginners Grade competitions only basic steps may be performed.

3. Primary Grade competitions are confined to dancers who have never won 1^st 2^nd or 3^rd prize (please refer to the grid) for that particular dance other than in Beginners Grade.

4. Intermediate Grade competitions are open to all dancers who have not previously won 1st or 2nd prize (please refer to the grid) for that particular dance in Intermediate under the same or higher age limits. If a dancer in Continental Europe and Asia wins in Intermediate, they advance to the next level for the rest of the calendar year. Teachers can move dancers back at their own discretion at the start of the next calendar year.

5. For all Beginner, Primary and Intermediate competitions (excluding trophy competitions) the 32 bar method will be applied.
   Two and three hands are danced to 40 bars of music.
   Ceíli and figure dances are subject to the rules applied at Oireachtasi.
   All Premier Championship dancers will be required to dance to 48 bars of music in the reel and jig and 40 bars in the slip-jig and hornpipe.

MUSIC SPEEDS

TROPHY & CHAMPIONSHIP RULES

6. Beginner, Primary and Intermediate Trophy Competitions, will be a choice of light and heavy dance. Dancers will dance 16 bars down the line in their chosen dance(s).

7. Traditional Set Dance competitions, dancers will have a choice out of 7 traditional dance:
   St. Patrick’s Day, Blackbird, Job of Journeywork, Garden of Daisies, King of Fairies, Jockey to the Fair & Three sea Captains. If a dancer win a first place in any traditional set dance competition, that dancer move on the next level in all 7 traditional set dances.

8. Traditional set dances may only be performed in the following competitions: Traditional Set dance competitions, Adult Championships and in the Under 10 Premier Championships.

9. Open Championships: To call a competition ‘Open Championship’ it must be judged by at least 3 adjudicators.
   Only Open dancers are eligible to dance in this competition.
   Open Championships Comp. 106,107,108,109 will be judged by 3 adjudicators, as two solos and then an overall Championships. The Competition is for Open dancers, they will be required to dance 48 bars of music for the Reel or Heavy Jig, 40 bars of music for the Slip Jig or Hornpipe, & a MODERN SET.
   Open Championships Comp. 105 Dancers will be required to dance 48 bars of music for the Reel & Heavy Jig and 40 for Slip Jig & Hornpipe & Traditional or Modern Set.
   If there are more than 10 dancers in the competition the third round will be danced as recall.

10. Preliminary Championships:To call a competition “Preliminary Championship” it must be judged by at least 3 Adjudicators.
    This competition is for dancers of Intermediate or Preliminary standard and will be teacher’s discretion for entry. They will be required to dance 48 bars of music for the Reel or Heavy Jig, 40 bars of music for the Slip Jig or Hornpipe, & a MODERN SET. A Preliminary Championship may be combined with an Open Championship. Where these are combined the Preliminary Championship result will be taken from the first two rounds only. Dancers may also be placed in the overall Open Championship. Dancers/Teachers must select/tick the Preliminary Championship box when entering a dancer. Where a Preliminary Championship is held separately from an Open Championship dancers must complete a minimum of two rounds: a heavy dance (Heavy Jig or Hornpipe), a light dance (Reel or Slip Jig) and a non-traditional set dance in the case of a recall. A dancer may not enter a Preliminary Championship for the remainder of the calendar year if they win two Preliminary Championship from the 1st January in one calendar year. Placement in the regional Oireachtas or any Open Championship in this region will not restrict dancers from competing in a Preliminary Championship outside of the RCCEA region.

11. Adult Championships will be judged by one adjudicator and are open to dancers of Intermediate and above level who have never won a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in an Open Championship and are not participating in a full Open Championship at the same feis. Dancers are required to dance to 32 bars of music and will dance a choice of soft shoe (Reel or Slip Jig for ladies and Reel for gentlemen), heavy shoe (Heavy Jig or Hornpipe) and a Traditional Set.

12. Where there are 5 or less dancers in any Championship placement will not affect grading.

OFFICIAL CLRG RULES

13. The lodgment of an entry will be taken to mean that teachers and pupils understand these rules and undertake to abide by them.

14. Objections must be lodged in writing within one hour of the announcement of the result of a competition accompanied by a fee of 40 Euro, which will be refunded if the objection is upheld.

15. The Adjudicators’ decisions are final.

16. Only Feis officials may approach the adjudicators during competition sessions.

17. Age will be taken as on 1st January 2024 (whatever age you turn this year, in 2024, you dance under that age all year long, e.g. if a dancer’s date of birth is 29 May 2002, he/she dances under 10 in the year 2012). Evidence of age may be requested, therefore dancers should have a valid ID with them in the event of a query as to their age.

18. Competitors must be in costume and ready to dance 30 minutes before their competitions are scheduled.

19. The dress code in accordance with An Coimisiún rules will be strictly observed. For the sake of modesty and in the interest of safety to young people, dancers will not be permitted to walk around the Feis scantily dressed.

20. All Beginners and Primary dancers of all age groups may only wear a class costume, simple dancewear or appropriate attire (skirt and top/blouse, simple dress for girls and ladies, trousers and t-shirt/shirt for boys and gents. Make-up is not permitted for any dancer in the first two grades up to and including the Under 12 age group worldwide.

21. The Costume Rules of An Coimisiún, as amended, also apply in Continental Europe and Asia; it can be found in the “Rules” section on www.clrg.ie for reference. Female adult dancers participating in competitions entitled ‘adult competition’ and/or ‘adult grade competition’ (both solo and team) are required to wear tights of a denier not less than 70.

22. Team dances (four hands and upward) must be performed as per the Coimisiún handbook “Ar Rinci Ceili”.

23. By entering in competitions, dancers (or their legal representatives, in case of minors) consent to their names being stated in the feis results and in the public Internet archives or any other feis entry/results system as may replace it.

24. Provided that dancers are not disturbed by flashlights or the like, photography and video recording by persons other than official feis photographers is allowed during Beginners and Primary competitions and during all award ceremonies.
    During Intermediate and Premier competitions, ONLY the official feis photographer is permitted to take photos.
    Those who do not wish to be photographed should make themselves known to the Feis Organisers.

25. An Coimisiun has ruled that from 1st January each year, no block, en pointe, stationary or moving, be allowed to be performed for all ages up to and including the under 12 age group worldwide. The Under 12 Age Group will be allowed to toe walk from September 1st.

26. Within the limits specified in the Rules of An Coimisiún, the Organisers may at their discretion cancel or combine competitions with insufficient entries.

27. Order and quiet must be kept in the hall, particularly while competitors are dancing.

28. The Feis organisers cannot accept any liability for injury or loss or damage to property while on the premises.

29. No refunds will be made.

EXTRA BUSTOFEIS RULES

30. Dancers competing in the Treble Reel Competitions will dance 16 bars down the line Free Style.
    Therefore use of hands and non-traditional dance wear are permitted.

31. Treble Reel Competitions nr. 35-35a-35b-36-36a-36b will be “Lord of the Rings Theme” but it is not mandatory to wear a themed costume.
32. 6/8 Hand Ceili Club competitions 45, 45a & 45b  must be performed in accordance with the An Coimisiún handbook “Ar Rinci Foirne”. The Competition is Open to all ages and to all dancers who participate in Ceili Club competitions & DO NOT participate in Solo competitions. However, as a Special concession 2 persons per Team who participate in solo competitions may be included in the Ceili Club Team (after informing the local Organiser).

33. Ceili Club competition 46 is a choice of the following dances: Rakes of Mallow, Siege of Ennis, Siege of Carrick, The Bridge of Athlone, Harvest Time Jig, Waves of Tory, Walls of Limerick, Bonfire Dance, An Rince Mor, Glencar Reel, Antrim Reel, Rince Fada, Haste to the Wedding. The Competition is open to all ages and to all dancers who DO NOT participate in Solo competitions. However, as a Special concession 2 person per Team who participates in solo competitions may be included in the Ceili Club Team (after informing the local Organiser)
34. Just the first 7 of the dancers participating in each competition will be awarded except for the reel competition of each level.