A genuinely positive and inclusive display of national pride
An eclectic mix of intricate dance and traditional music, Éireann is a dazzlingly fun tribute to Irish history and culture. A Taste of Ireland is a collective of breathtakingly talented performers, never missing a beat or breaking formation. Dancers in sequin hot pants and orange waist coats representing the Orange Order, live renditions of folk songs, lyrical duets set against haunting whispers of “famine, famine”; no stone is left unturned in this glitzy tour of the highs and lows of Ireland’s past, writes Melina Block.
For a relatively small country, Ireland has a pretty great track record when it comes to cultural output. The country has been having a real moment in pop culture across the last few years, from huge TV hits like Derry Girls and Normal People to the rising fame of music artists like Fontaines DC and Kneecap. Éireann capitalises on this, platforming traditional Irish dancing and music for a modern audience.
As someone who, regrettably, has not had the chance to visit Ireland, this show felt like a good glimpse into the UK’s closest neighbour. It is hard not to be charmed by the glamorously coiffed hair of the women and the jaunty men that make up A Taste of Ireland. They may be on foreign soil, but they all looked very much at home on stage, clearly loving every second of it. The audience were equally happy, clapping and singing along, cheering on the show and calling for encores.
In a time of growing cultural and political divisions, it is refreshing to see a genuinely positive and inclusive display of national pride. Éireann is great fun – and a decidedly wonderful taste of Ireland.
