When Portlaoise woman Gabrielle Lynam was born in 1957, her feet were turned upwards, and she had to wear calipers.
“My mother brought me to the hospital every day for physiotherapy and was advised to send me to dance classes to strengthen my legs,” she recalled.
Starting Irish dance classes at the age of four saw a huge improvement which was regarded by many as little short of a miracle and was to change her life.
“I loved Irish dance, it became my passion,” Gabrielle said.
She went on to become a renowned Irish dance teacher and continues to give classes in Laois alongside her daughter Carmel Manton Kinsella and former pupil, Orla Byrne, as well as acting as an adjudicator.
After taking lessons locally with Joe Delaney, Gabrielle whose maternal grandfather, Jimmy Byrne, was an Irish dancer, went to Dublin where she was taught by Rory O’Connor, a well-known Irish dance teacher, from the time she was seven years of age.
Gabrielle whose father was a native of Borris-in-Ossory and whose mother was from Capoley, just outside Portlaoise, set up her own school in Portlaoise in 1978.
She has produced countless dancers who won Laois championship titles over the years.
“I taught 28 pupils who achieved Leinster titles, 24 who won All-Ireland and international titles and eight who won world titles,” said Gabrielle.
Some of those under her tutelage went on the perform in Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.
“Those productions were hugely popular but there would be no Riverdance or Lord of the Dance if it wasn’t for the ordinary dance teachers around the country,” she remarked.
While girls dominate in her school, reflecting general trends, the boys who stuck with Irish dance have, she said, been very successful.
“Seven world titles have been won by boys in the school and we have six boys in our classes at the moment.”
Gabrielle has also produced 14 Irish dance teachers locally, with four more sitting exams at present.
While lifestyles have changed a lot since she first started teaching, she contended that children are generally as enthusiastic as ever about Irish dance.
“It’s great for their co-ordination and confidence. The discipline has helped many excel in their third level studies.
“One of my early pupils went on to be a plastic surgeon. The social aspect is also great. Children make lifelong friends through Irish dance.
“Obviously the pandemic cut numbers. We weren’t allowed to teach for most of the period, resuming by teaching outside initially.
“I missed the classes and the children dreadfully. We did Zoom classes, but pupils were trying to dance at home, without proper dance floors. The good thing was it meant we didn’t lose contact.”
There has been criticism of the wigs, the elaborate costumes and the fake tan.
“When the wigs came in at first, I said I wouldn’t have them but then I realised that they were very handy if children were going to a Feis and didn’t have the time to be curling their hair after school and study.
Our organisation, An Chomhdháil, The Congress of Irish Dance Teachers – doesn’t allow children under 13 to wear make-up while participating in competitions. The make-up and tan though can help against the bright lights on stage.”
Her work has seen her travel extensively.
“We have done a lot of tours. We have been to the US several times as well as England, France, Belgium and Italy,” she said.
She revels in being on the go whether it’s around the country or abroad.
“I had a heart attack in 2016 and my aorta was 99 per cent blocked. I was told I was lucky to survive a blockage like that and I think the dancing keeps me going generally. I was dancing up to the day before the heart attack as I was doing exams.”
Gabrielle became an adjudicator in 1990 and a grading examiner in 2000. She said she continues to enjoy teaching children and teenagers.
“The steps have got more intricate and the costumes more elaborate, but the core of Irish dance is still there. We are always evolving and that makes things exciting,” she said.
“I will be 65 in December and have no plans to retire. I think I will go out dancing,” she laughs.
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