Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

1. Have competed at a For the Love of Ireland feis during the same calendar year.

2. Have qualified for solo competition at NAIDC through one of the following championships:

   • Oireachtas

   • All Irelands

   • Great Britains

   • All Scotlands

3. Plan to compete at NAIDC in the year of the award.

4. Submit a complete application before the deadline.

5. Not be a current Executive Board member or an immediate family member of an Executive Board member.

Applicants of all age groups are welcome.

Application Timeline

• Applications Open: March 16

• Deadline: May 24 at 11:59 PM CST

• Recipients Announced: Second week of June

Note: Scholarship awards are conditional until NAIDC registration is confirmed (see below).

Conditional Award Payment

Recipients will be announced in June; however, funds will only be distributed after proof of NAIDC registration is submitted.

Deadline to Submit Registration Confirmation: June 20

Failure to provide documentation by this date will result in forfeiture of the award.

Requirement to Attend NAIDC

Recipients are required to:

• Compete at NAIDC in the year the scholarship is awarded

• Use funds solely for NAIDC-related expenses

If a recipient does not attend NAIDC, the full scholarship must be returned within 30 days.

Exceptions may be granted for:

• Documented medical emergencies

• Immediate family emergencies

• Event cancellation or force majeure

All exceptions are reviewed by the Board.

Application Components

Applicants must submit:

1. Basic Information

   • Name

   • Age group

   • Dance school

   • NAIDC qualifying event

   • Confirmation of participation in a For the Love of Ireland feis

2. Personal Statement

The personal statement helps the scholarship committee understand your dedication to Irish dance and your connection to the community.

The required length depends on the dancer's age.

Personal Statement Requirements

Age 12 and Under (U12)

Young dancers should keep responses simple.

Length:
1–2 short paragraphs (100–150 words)

Prompt

Tell us:

• Why you love Irish dancing

• What qualifying for NAIDC means to you

• Something kind or helpful you have done for someone else

Age 13–17 (U13–U17)

Older dancers should provide a more detailed response.

Length:
300–500 words

Prompt

Please tell us:

• Your Irish dance journey

• What qualifying for NAIDC means to you

• How you support or contribute to the Irish dance community

• What you hope to achieve through dance

Adults (18+)

Adult dancers are expected to provide a deeper reflection on their experience.

Length:
600–1,000 words

Prompt

Please address:

• Your personal journey in Irish dance

• The role Irish culture and dance play in your life

• How you contribute to your dance community

• The impact competing at NAIDC has on your goals and future involvement in Irish dance

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed through a double-blind evaluation process to ensure fairness.

This means:

• Names and identifying information are removed

• Applications are reviewed anonymously

• Reviewers score each application using a standardized rubric

The review panel may include:

• Non-executive board members

• Feis organizers

• Certified Irish dance adjudicators

• TCRGs

Reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves if necessary.

Scoring Criteria

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Commitment to Irish dance

• Community involvement

• Quality of the personal statement

• Qualification achievement

• Overall impact

Applicants must receive a minimum average score of 70% to be considered for a scholarship.

Meeting the minimum score does not guarantee selection, as awards depend on available funding.

Publicity Consent

Scholarship recipients may be featured by For the Love of Ireland in:

• Social media

• Website announcements

• Press releases

• Annual reports

Participation in publicity is optional and does not affect eligibility.