Local girl reaches quarter finals of TG4's 'Ríl Deal' dance competiton

A 14-year-old Irish dancer from Newtown, Horseleap, has reached the quarter finals of TG4's 'An Ríl Deal' competition.

The episode featuring Bláithín Stenson (pictured above) will be televised on TG4 on Sunday week, October 18, at 8.30pm.

Bláithín is a student in St Joseph's Secondary School in Rochfortbridge, and dances for The Emerald Lakes Academy of Irish Dance in Rochfortbridge with Kevin Lyster.

She managed to pass the audition stage - which attracted hundreds of entries from around the country - to earn herself a place in the elusive An Ríl Deal quarter finals.

Not only did she get to perform in front of the judges, Breandán de Gallaí, Úna Ní Fhlathartha, and Roy Galvin, and wow them with her moves, but she also got the opportunity to meet the Irish dancing star David Geaney, who gave her advice for her performance.

In the upcoming episode Bláithín will be seen competing against seven other acts.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions this year there was no live audience, but her friends Zofia, Ciara, Alice, Katie, Áine, Holly and Doireann from Emerald Lakes helped out and participated in a Zoom audience.

To see how Bláithín gets on, tune in to TG4 on Sunday October 18, at 8.30pm!