Donie and The Dancing Master – Donie agus An Máistir Damhsa

A few years ago, while researching my family tree, I came across a letter in the Folklore Collection written by my late father, Donal Clarke. Around the same time, as I searched for inspiration for new jewellery designs, the image of The Dancing Master kept appearing in my sketches. I was charmed by the story of “The Dancing Master”.
I discovered that dancing masters were travelling teachers who journeyed from village to village throughout Ireland, teaching dance steps and helping to keep our rich traditions of music and dance alive. The Dancing Master Collection is more than jewellery, it is jewellery that speaks, it’s a celebration of Irish culture, a tribute to the past, and a testament to the power of childhood stories. The joy and movement in the pieces echo Donie’s childhood memories of happy days dancing at the fairs in Ireland.