Orfhlaith Ni Bhriain is Acting Course Director of the BA in Irish Music and Dance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. She is a registered Irish Dance teacher T.C.R.G. and adjudicator A.D.C.R.G. with An Coimisiún le Rinci Gaelacha. She has travelled extensively to workshops and Step Dance Competitions throughout Europe and North America as a tutor from the renowned Scoil Rince Ui Ruairc and dance accompanist.

In 1998 she completed a Masters in Ethnochoreology at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. Orfhlaith is currently completing her doctoral thesis at the University of Limerick. Her research interests include, Irish Dance among the Diaspora and examining creative processes in the context of Competitive Irish Solo Step Dance.

Recently she completed a residency at Williams College MA where she was employed as guest artist in dance. Orfhlaith is a former Co-Director of Blas International Summer School of Traditional Irish Music and Dance held at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and is Dance Co-ordinator on the BA programme . She is currently vice- chair person of Dance Research Forum Ireland. She has just published a book entitled The Terminology of Irish Dance.

Guíonn Orfhlaith ádh mór ar na rinceoirí uilig.

From county Antrim in Northern Ireland Paul began his musical career learning classical music on piano when he was about eight years old. It wasn’t long before he started playing traditional Irish music and he started playing at feiseanna when he was sixteen. He has progressed from providing piano accompaniment to playing piano accordion and keyboards. Now a familiar face on the Irish dancing scene, he plays regularly at feiseanna in Ireland, the UK and America.

Away from the world of Irish dancing Paul is well known on the traditional music circuit in Ireland. He regularly plays at ceilis with various ceili bands throughout Northern Ireland. Paul graduated from Queens University, Belfast with a degree in computer science and currently works as a software developer.

Francis is a one of Ireland's most dynamic young piano players and is a talented step dancer.  He has performed all over the globe, at music festivals including Celtic Connections and the Tønder Festival, and provided musical accompaniment for all major Irish dance competitions including the World Irish Dance Championships.

Francis has recorded with many young traditional Irish musicians and has provided numerous recordings for Irish dance shows.  Francis has several national TV appearances to his credit including a performance with Ireland's most vibrant young ceili band, The Five Counties Ceili Band, at the Rose of Tralee festival as well as on RTE's latest programme showcasing young Irish traditional musicians, ‘The Reel Deal'.

Francis is also a gifted arranger and composer and his talent is in much demand by traditional musicians and Irish dance companies alike.  His compositions are performed regularly in the Irish dance world.

Also a talented dancer, Francis has performed with the world-wide phenomena Riverdance - The Show , and has performed with music groups including Cherish the Ladies .  He is also in much demand as a teacher and choreographer, and he is regularly invited to teach workshops around the globe.

A graduate of the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick, where he now works as a lecturer, Francis is an exceptional young academic, has completed the BA in Irish Music and Dance and an MA in Ethnomusicology, and now pursues a PhD investigating the divergent processes of transmission in Irish traditional music.

Sean O'Brien's involvement in Irish dancing began in his home town of Brisbane, Australia where he started taking Irish dance classes with Scoil Ard Rince. He went on to win both State and Australian Championships and later toured for 4 years with Riverdance's Liffey and Avoca companies as a dancer and pianist. He has played at feisanna worldwide for over 10 years with this being his first All Ireland championship.

Sean is a classically trained pianist and accordionist currently residing in London working as a producer and recording artist. He works with and composes many styles of music from folk to funk to electronica.