University of Limerick

Overview

The Irish Dance program at the University of Limerick offers a unique opportunity to cultivate your performance skills while gaining a comprehensive understanding of traditional Irish dance. Through a practice-led approach, you will engage with various music and dance traditions, vocational modules, and hands-on work experiences, setting the stage for a successful career in the creative and professional arts.

What you'll study

The curriculum is designed to integrate performance training with critical and contextual studies, ensuring a well-rounded education. Key components of the program include:

• Performance: Focus on studio work and performance development.
• Critical Encounters with World Music and Dance: Engage in comparative studies and critical listening/analysis.
• Contextualising and Vocational Studies: Explore various pathways, including Music and Dance Education and Community Music and Dance.
• Irish World Academy Practicum: Experience applied learning within the Academy’s vibrant performance and cultural environment.
• Co-operative Education: Participate in structured work placements to enhance employability skills.
• Arts and Health: Investigate the role of dance in wellbeing and health-related contexts.

Assessments typically include a mix of performance evaluations, reflective and critical work, as well as outputs from applied projects or practicums. For detailed information on specific modules and assessment methods, refer to the program handbook provided by the University of Limerick.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for the Irish Dance program, applicants must possess the established Leaving Certificate (or an equivalent qualification) with a minimum of six subjects. The entry criteria include:

• Two grades at H5 (Higher level) and four grades at O6 (Ordinary level), or
• Four grades at H7 (Higher level).

Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English. Additionally, a grade of F6 in Foundation Mathematics meets the minimum entry requirements, although it is not considered for scoring purposes.

Career prospects

Graduates of the Irish Dance program are well-prepared for various professional avenues in the performing arts sector. Opportunities may include performance, teaching, choreography, and community engagement in music and dance. The combination of practical experience and academic study equips students with the skills needed to thrive in a diverse range of creative careers.