Irish Dancers For Hire Near You

We delivered next level parties for exceptional companies

We also did more than 40,000 birthday parties. Probably, including your neighbour’s recent big bash.

Your guide to hiring Irish dancers in the UK

Irish dancers bring fizz to a party like nothing else. Fast footwork, tight formations, and music that refuses to let feet stay still. Whether you’re planning a rural marquee wedding, a village hall fundraiser, or a full St Patrick’s bash, we’ll help you book the right act, at the right price, with zero faff. This buyer’s guide covers styles, costs, logistics, and how to shape a performance that feels authentically Irish and totally you.

What you can book

Irish dance for events generally falls into three flavours. You can mix and match these to suit your plan.

• Performance showcase: High-energy choreographed numbers in traditional or contemporary costumes. Expect hard shoe fireworks, soft shoe grace, and tight team work. Ideal for wowing a crowd at a manor house reception or corporate awards.
• Classic céilí with a caller: A caller teaches simple group dances and keeps the floor moving. No experience needed and lots of laughter guaranteed. Perfect for barns, village halls, and marquees where you want everyone involved.
• Trad session plus steps: Live musicians playing fiddle, flute, pipes or bodhrán while dancers drop in and out. It’s relaxed, intimate, and brilliant for country hotels and seasonal fêtes where you want atmosphere as well as spectacle.

Where Irish dancers shine

Irish dancers fit a huge range of UK events, but they’re especially strong for:

• Rural marquees and barns that need a joyful focal point
• Destination weddings that want a proud nod to heritage
• Manor houses and country hotels looking for elegant impact
• Village halls and seasonal fêtes where family-friendly fun matters
• Corporate gatherings and brand launches that need a punchy opener
• St Patrick’s Day parties of every size, from snug rooms to grand ballrooms

What it costs in the UK

Most bookings fall between £500 and £1,400, with price driven by the size of the troupe, travel, and extras such as live musicians or a caller. Use these ballpark figures to shape your brief:

• Solo or duo dancers for short showcases: from £500 to £700
• Small troupe of three to four dancers: roughly £700 to £1,100
• Larger troupe or multiple sets across an evening: £1,100 to £1,400
• Add a céilí caller or live trad musicians: commonly £150 to £400 extra per element

What pushes the fee up:

• Peak dates such as the weekend of St Patrick’s Day and popular summer Saturdays
• Long travel or late-night finishes
• Specialist staging, costume changes, or bespoke choreography
• Requests for extended sets with multiple breaks

On Poptop you’ll see instant, all-inclusive pricing as soon as you enter your date, guest count, and postcode, so you can compare options quickly without waiting around.

What a standard package includes

Every supplier differs, but most Irish dancer packages include:

• One to three high-impact sets of performance, often 10 to 20 minutes each
• Background music between dances if musicians aren’t booked
• Costumes and all dance props
• Liaison with your venue about floor surface and performance space
• Public liability insurance and risk assessment where needed
• Optional add-ons such as a céilí taster, meet-and-greet, or photo moments with the troupe

Tip for barns and marquees. A clean, flat surface is essential. Wooden or vinyl dance floors are perfect. Bare concrete or uneven grass is not. If in doubt, ask us and we’ll help you sort the right flooring.

Planning timeline that actually works

Here’s a simple schedule that keeps stress low and quality high.

• Eight to twelve weeks out: Confirm your date, rough running order, and preferred style. Decide if you want a showcase, a céilí with a caller, or the trad session blend. Book early if you need St Patrick’s weekend.
• Four to six weeks out: Share your floor plan, guest numbers, and any access quirks. If you’re in a country hotel or manor house, confirm where the dancers will warm up and change.
• Two to three weeks out: Finalise timings. Align live music and dance sets if you’ve booked both. Confirm any shout-outs, heritage nods, or special tunes you’d love.
• Week of the event: Double-check parking, load-in, floor surface, and power for sound. Share the name of your on-the-day contact. Then relax. You’re ready.

Space, sound, and technical notes

• Floor and footprint: A quartet of dancers is happiest with at least 4 by 4 metres. Bigger is better for line work and big patterns. Soft, flat, non-slip floors keep everyone safe and sharp.
• Sound: If you’re not booking musicians, the dancers will often bring playback on a small PA for intimate spaces. For barns, marquees, and big halls, we’ll plan sound through your DJ or venue system.
• Lighting: Warm general wash is great. Avoid extreme strobes if you’ve booked fast footwork. For rustic marquees, simple uplighters and festoons create a lovely glow.
• Change space: A private room near the action helps with costume changes and warm-ups. Nothing fancy needed, just clean and close.

Running orders that keep energy high

Not sure where to place your dancers for the biggest impact? Try one of these.

• Welcome and wow: A short, punchy set right after guests take their seats for the wedding breakfast or dinner. It sets the tone and earns you instant smiles.
• Post-meal pick-up: Two compact sets either side of speeches or cake cutting. Keeps momentum and prevents a dip.
• Céilí takeover: Start with a five-minute showcase, then invite everyone on the floor with the caller. Brilliant in barns, village halls, and marquees where guests are up for a laugh.
• Late-evening burst: For destination weddings and manor houses, a final high-octane set before the DJ takes over. It hands the room to the party properly warmed.

Make it feel authentically Irish

You don’t need leprechaun clichés to get the mood right. Subtle choices go further.

• Invite one tune that means something to your family
• Blend a trad duo with your dancers for live sparkle
• Let your caller lead a couple of easy group dances so all ages can join
• Keep décor natural in rustic spaces; think greenery and warm whites
• If you’re outdoors, choose a marquee floor that’s kind to fast feet

A quick buyer’s checklist

• Clear on your format: showcase, céilí with caller, or trad session blend
• Date, venue, floor surface, space measurements, and guest count to hand
• Running order options you like, with set lengths
• Decision on live musicians versus playback
• Access info, parking, and on-the-day contact details
• Any heritage requests or special tunes you’d love to hear
• Budget window between £500 and £1,400 with room for an add-on if needed

Why book Irish dancers in the UK through Poptop

We built Poptop to remove the drama from event planning. Here’s what that means for you, drawn from how the platform works day to day.

• Enjoy a truly friendly attitude. You get more than a transaction. Our suppliers are chosen for warm, engaging presence as well as talent. They read the room, look after your guests, and leave everyone smiling.
• Plan your party in minutes, not days. Enter your date, numbers, and postcode to see instant, all-inclusive pricing. No waiting for quotes. No guessing. You can shortlist and book on the spot.
• Get an event that is uniquely yours. Our dancers and musicians adapt to you. From a surprise set for grandparents to a favourite reel as you enter, we’ll help shape the details so it feels personal.
• Relax and plan without the anxiety. You’ll get clear updates and straightforward communications. You’ll always know what’s happening and when, so you can look forward rather than worry.
• Find what you need effortlessly. The platform is simple. You don’t need to be an events pro. A few clicks gets you a curated list of Irish dancers in the UK who match your brief.
• Discover everything in one convenient place. If you also need a DJ, acoustic duo, photo booth, or catering, it’s all in the same marketplace. One plan, one account, everything aligned.
• Host a party that will be remembered. Irish dance is a showstopper. Pair it with a caller or a live trad duo and your guests will talk about it for years.
• Book with confidence and complete security. Suppliers are vetted, our team is on hand, and there’s a money-back guarantee. If anything wobbles, we’ll help you find the right fix fast.

How to write a great brief

Give us a few simple points and we’ll do the rest.

• Tell us your event type, location, and venue surface
• Share the vibe you want: elegant, lively, or family party
• Choose your format: showcase, céilí, or session blend
• Note must-hear tunes or heritage touches
• Confirm timings, access, and where the dancers can change

With that, we can present tailored options with instant pricing so you can book confidently.

Sample briefs that work

• For a rural marquee wedding: We’re hosting 120 guests in a countryside marquee with a proper dance floor. We’d like a 10-minute showcase right after the first dance, then a 30-minute céilí with a caller to get everyone moving. Playback is fine. Can we include one quieter soft-shoe piece?
• For a manor house reception: We’re planning a refined evening with 90 guests. Please provide a small troupe for two 12-minute sets during the reception, plus a five-minute finale before dinner. We’d like live fiddle and bodhrán if available.
• For a village hall St Patrick’s: We’re expecting mixed ages. We’d love a lively opener and then a beginner-friendly céilí. Bring a caller who can teach quickly and keep it fun.

Final word and next steps

Irish dancers turn good gatherings into great ones. They bring heritage, precision, and pure joy to barns, marquees, manor houses, and village halls across the UK. With clear formats, instant pricing between £500 and £1,400, and friendly experts who make planning painless, booking through Poptop is the simplest way to get it right.

Tell us your date, numbers, and postcode, say whether you fancy a showcase, a céilí with a caller, or a trad session blend, and we’ll show you perfectly matched Irish dancers in the UK. Shortlist your favourites, compare all-inclusive prices, and book in minutes. We’ll keep you informed, your guests delighted, and your dance floor full.