Orfhlaith Ni Bhriain

Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain is an ethnochoreologist and Course Director of the MA in Irish Traditional Dance Performance and MA Irish Dance Studies and programmes at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Ireland, where she teaches Irish dance skills, Irish music and dance studies, Western Art Dance History, Music and Dance education and ethnochoreology to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

As an accomplished performer and teacher of Irish music song and dance, she delivers workshops and seminars internationally and is a recognised expert in the Irish traditional music and dance world featuring in many broadcasts and documentaries on radio and television as cultural commentator.

Her book Jigs to Jacobites (2018) was co-authored with designer and illustrator Michael McCabe and was funded by The Arts Council. An earlier book, The Terminology of Irish Dance, was published in 2008 by Macater Press and in 2013 she was commissioned by Dance Ireland to write an article on contemporary Irish step dance.

Her current research involves collaborative work with physiotherapist Amanda Clifford, investigating the potential benefit of music and dance for older adults. They have published extensively on arts and health interventions.