‘I’m floating on air’ Young Laois Irish dancer wins World Championship and meets Michael Flatley

A young Laois boy has just won first place at his first World Irish Dancing championships, the youngest male champion to do so, with praise coming from legendary dancer and choreographer Michael Flatley.

Bobby Kinsella, 10, a fourth generation top Irish Dancer from Laois, has beaten off tough competition to win the Under 11 category at the world championships, taking place in Killarney this week.

To cap it all, Michael Flatley, creator of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance shows, has expressed hope for Bobby to dance in his show when he grows up.

Bobby spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, from Killarney as the week long championships were drawing to a close on Friday, March 29.

“I am floating on air still, especially as it was my first time to dance this championship,” he said.

He sums up his love of Irish dance.

“The most exciting thing is meeting new friends from all over the world and getting to travel,” he said.

Bobby is a grandson of Gabrielle Lynam, who founded the famous Lynam School of Irish Dancing, and a son of dance teacher Carmel Menton Kinsella. His dancing lineage goes even further back, as Carmel explained. 

“It actually goes back to his great grandad, Thomas Lynam. He ran feiseanna in the 50s and 60s,” she said.

Bobby started dancing at the tender age of three, and has an amazing record of wins already.

He won at his first feis aged four. He has three consecutive Leinster titles. He had to wait until he turned 10 to qualify for the World championships, beating boys a year older than himself.

“We are thrilled for him. He is so committed. Nearly every morning he practises before he goes to school, and does a lot of core and fitness exercises every day," his proud mother said.

Michael Flatley had a chat with Bobby at the championships. 

"He said he was so pleased to meet the youngest male world champion and hopes to see Bobby on stage with Lord of the Dance when he's older," Carmel said.

Bobby’s motivation is all his own she said.

“It is a huge commitment for a child but he does it himself, I hear him dancing away in my studio at home,” Carmel said.

Busy Bobby also finds time to play football with Stradbally GAA, and soccer with TNS Utd. He is a pupil at St Colman’s National School. Bobby has a sister Caoimhe and two brothers Joss and Eric.

The prestigious Laois dance school has no less than 30 dancers competing in the week long An Comhdhail World Irish Dancing Championships.

They are aged from 10 to 23, and doing the club proud with great performances.

“We are proud of each and every one. They are not finished yet, we have a team of 20 tonight in the freestyle championship, so there is great excitement. They are training all year for this,” Carmel said.

Over 2,500 competitors from America, Scotland, England, Europe and all over Ireland competed in the World Championships.