Irish culture retains many features of its ancient Celtic origins yet also reflects the influence of other traditions and trends.

Irish writers and painters were at the forefront of European modernism in the early decades of the twentieth century.

During the 1990s, as Irish directors and actors made their mark on international cinema, the prominence of traditional music and dance began to make its mark with the arrival of Riverdance.

IRISH DANCING

The Feis has been an important part of rural cultural life, historically. Children, teenagers and adults compete in separate competitions for Feis titles and prizes. Today, through several developments Irish dancing has changed yet retains most of the traditional elements of dance. There are group and solo competitions where dancers are graded by age from six to seventeen and then into the senior categories.

There are dancing championships in all four provinces, and winners of these provincial competitions qualify for the All Ireland Championships and also for World Championship titles.

The Irish word céili originally referred to a gathering of neighbours in a house to have an enjoyable time, dancing, playing music and storytelling. Today it refers to an informal evening of dancing. Céilis are held in large towns and country districts where young and old enjoy together group dances. The céili can be traced back to pre-famine times, when dancing at the cross-roads was a popular rural pastime. These dances were usually held on Sunday evenings in summer when young people would gather at the cross-roads. The music was often performed by a fiddler seated on a three legged stool with his upturned hat beside him for a collection. The fiddler began with a reel such as the lively "Silver Tip", but he had to play it several times before the dancers joined in.

The world-wide success of Riverdance and more recently Lord of the Dance has placed Irish dance on the international stage. Dancing schools are filled with young pupils keen to imitate and learn the dancing styles which brought traditional Irish dance international acclaim. Today there are many opportunities to watch and enjoy Irish dancing.

For youngsters, in and around Crawley, there are a number of dance schools that operate classes throughout the week. Each of the dance schools take part at our events. The websites below give details of dance schools and their class times:

MUSIC

Music has always been important in Irish cultural life. One of the earliest Irish composers whose work has survived is Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), the blind harpist and one of the last of the ancient Bardic tradition. John Field (1782-1837), creator of the nocturne, influenced European composers such as Chopin and Glinka. In recent years composers A.J. Potter (1918-1980) and Gerard Victory (1921-1995) have been major influential figures on the contemporary classical music scene.

Traditional Irish music has inspired modern composers such as Seán Ó Riada (1931-71), A.J. Potter (1918-1980), Brian Boydell, Seoirse Bodley, Shaun Davey and Micheal Ó Súilleabháin. Traditional Irish music has enjoyed a considerable revival in recent years and is now popular in many countries with the influence of groups as diverse as The Dubliners, Clannad, The Chieftains, De Dannan and Altan. Such groups continue to perform traditional music in a modern context without compromising its timeless essence and integrity. Another aspect of the vitality and adaptability of the Irish cultural tradition is the phenomenon of "Riverdance" that brings together the best of Irish song, dance and music.

ART

The earliest Irish art is found in carvings on megalithic monuments dating from 2500-2000 BC. Celtic art predominated in early historic times and reached its peak in the illuminated manuscripts: the Book of Durrow and the Book of Kells. While the basic Celtic patterns remain, European influences are seen in work executed after the 9th century. These include Viking, Romanesque and Gothic patterns. The large stone high crosses were a distinctive Irish creation, the best known examples of which come from the 9th and 10th centuries.

LITERATURE in ENGLISH

James Joyce (1882-1941) left Ireland in the early years of the twentieth century and spent most of the rest of his life in Europe, pioneering a new style of prose fiction. His encyclopaedic novel, Ulysses (1922), grafts the street life of his native city on to the plot of Homer’s Odyssey and chronicles a single day in the life of its principal characters. Another Dubliner, Samuel Beckett (1906-89), who often wrote in French, created Waiting for Godot (1953) which has become a twentieth century classic.

The list of Irish influences on English (and international) literature is extensive - a brief summary follows:

• NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS:
• 1923: William Butler Yeats
• 1925: George Bernard Shaw
• 1969: Samuel Beckett
• 1994: Seamus Heaney
• PULITZER PRIZE:
• Frank McCourt
• BOOKER PRIZE:
• Roddy Doyle
  

ARCHITECTURE

The earliest buildings that survive in the Irish countryside are the ring-forts. Most of the buildings post-date the introduction of Christianity in the fifth century. Hiberno-Romanesque architecture established itself in the 12th century and was superseded by Irish Gothic, which reached its zenith in the 15th century.

The introduction of classicism followed the Cromwellian wars. The cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny and Armagh all bear the 18th century Georgian imprint. The Gothic Revival influenced the style of many of the churches and public buildings erected in the 19th century.

The 20th century has witnessed the rapid expansion of the cities and main towns of Ireland. Present day Irish architects are working to meet the need for new commercial and community facilities while at the same time attempting to preserve a good environment.