ABOUT OIREACHTAS

The word oireachtas means in "assembly" in the Irish language, and comes from the Old Irish airech, meaning "nobleman."While the phrase can be used to refer to any cultural festival or gathering, as well as to the Irish legislature, in Irish dancing it has come to refer to major top-level competitions, and is often casually translated as "championship." The Mid-America Oireachtas is one of the regional Irish Dance competitions leading to the Nationals. The Irish Dance Teacher's Association of North America (IDTANA) operates in tandem with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) in Dublin, Ireland.