Jean Butler

Lord of the Dance at 3Arena: The whole Celtic kitschen sink plays out under Flatley’s watchful eye

This story of a simple dance aristocrat’s battle with dark forces could almost be a metaphor for creator Michael Flatley’s recent court travails

Thu Feb 05 2026 - 23:51

Irish dancing? It’s all about one-upmanship, says Jean Butler

TV review: ‘Steps Of Freedom: The Story Of Irish Dance’ chronicles the Riverdance effect

Thu Dec 16 2021 - 23:15

Riverdance the movie: Pierce Brosnan and Brendan Gleeson hoof it up on a screen near you

Michael Flatley becomes an impressively antlered elk in a new animated film based on the hit show

Mon May 24 2021 - 06:00

Allegations of sexual abuse rock the US world of Irish dancing

Three lawsuits filed in New Jersey allege abuse by Irish dancing instructors

Sat Dec 21 2019 - 00:00

Twilight Zone stuff as Spurs complete mission impossible

TV View: ‘If Tottenham turn this around I’ll think I’ve seen everything’

Thu May 09 2019 - 06:23

Session: ‘Four men in a space playing with music and dance’s relationship’

A new collaboration by choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and ex-Riverdancer Colin Dunne

Mon May 06 2019 - 05:00

This Is an Irish Dance review: See the music, hear the dance

Jean Butler returns with choreography that displays an increasingly rich level of articulation and a broad palette of movement

Fri Mar 03 2017 - 18:28

Jean Butler: ‘It’s very exposing for both of us’

Her new work, with musician Neil Martin, is designed as a conversation between music and dance and sees her going back to her roots

Mon Feb 06 2017 - 05:00

Repression and liberation: a coming-out for gay men and Irish step dance

Former Riverdancer Breandán de Gallaí examines identity, sexuality and ageing in his show Linger

Mon Jan 18 2016 - 06:00

Róisín Ingle on . . . celebrity-induced foot-in-mouth

Sat Jan 24 2015 - 01:00

Show will go on as Riverdance taps out 20 years onstage

Earlier this month live show sold 25 millionth ticket to spectator in Germany

Wed Apr 30 2014 - 17:21

Signs of success of the Gathering

After the year of the Gathering ends, all eyes will turn to Scotland, which is set to repeat its Homecoming Scotland initiative five years after its successful first run

Sat Dec 28 2013 - 01:00

An A-Z of music in Ireland

In 2,000 or so entries by more than 200 contributors, a new encyclopedia sets out to chart Irish musical experience across recorded history. Here are 26 of them, from Air to Zozimus

Sat Oct 19 2013 - 01:00

Dancers set record for largest Riverdance performance

Dance troupe from 44 countries gather in snaking line along River Liffey

Sun Jul 21 2013 - 13:54

Culture Shock: No ‘Danny Boy’, no rebel songs, just great Irish music

Mick Moloney’s brilliant Green Fields of America has been a staging post, proving ground and launch pad for almost everything that has happened in Irish-American traditional music since the 1970s

Sat Jun 08 2013 - 01:00