I had the fortune to shoot Gearóid Ó Droighneáin who is studying in Stockholm for a year. (July 2024)

Gearóid is the 2023 Irish national (does that make him world?) champion in the traditional sean nós style of Irish dancing. Unlike the perhaps more familiar stepdance, the sean nós style is fluid, with ‘low to the ground footwork’ and an emphasis on spontaneity and improvisation as well as free movement of the arms. It was necessitated as it was danced in the kitchen of small cottages or shebeens which might not be much larger. A musician and a crowd reduced the space further. A broom or brush was always available and presented an added challenge for nimbleness and technique.

Ursula O'Connor also assisted on the shoot and stepped out onto the floor as well. Ursula is more of a student of the traditional step dance, but was keen to give the sean nós style a go.