Northern Ireland

Belfast hotel asks Irish dancers to stop practising steps in the lift

Dancers Eva Smith and Cliodhna McGoran from Ferris School of Dancing at the World Irish Dancing Championship at the Waterfront Hall yesterday. Picture by Ann McManus
Dancers Eva Smith and Cliodhna McGoran from Ferris School of Dancing at the World Irish Dancing Championship at the Waterfront Hall yesterday. Picture by Ann McManus Dancers Eva Smith and Cliodhna McGoran from Ferris School of Dancing at the World Irish Dancing Championship at the Waterfront Hall yesterday. Picture by Ann McManus
By John Monaghan

A BELFAST hotel has asked competitors staying in the city for an Irish dancing championship to stop practising their moves in the lifts.

Premier Inn in the Cathedral Quarter put up the sign as the World Irish Dance Championships got underway in the Waterfront Hotel yesterday.

Around 5,000 dancers have visited Belfast to take part in more than 40 competitions during the week-long extravaganza, which will end on Good Friday.

Competitors from across Ireland, the US, Britain and Europe will battle it out in the hope of being crowned world champion.

The hotel sign reads: "We at Premier Inn understand how you need to practise constantly to perfect your skills.

"However if you dance in the lifts they will stop moving and you will be stuck here until we can get an engineer to come and rescue you. P.S best of luck at the Waterfront."

The sign was put up in the Premier Inn in the Cathedral Quarter as the World Irish Dance Championships got underway in Belfast. Picture from Lianne Reddy/Twitter
The sign was put up in the Premier Inn in the Cathedral Quarter as the World Irish Dance Championships got underway in Belfast. Picture from Lianne Reddy/Twitter The sign was put up in the Premier Inn in the Cathedral Quarter as the World Irish Dance Championships got underway in Belfast. Picture from Lianne Reddy/Twitter

Lianne Reddy, who posted a photo of the sign on Twitter, said that she couldn't "breathe with the laughter".

Mia Dunlop from Bellaghy rehearses ahead of the World Irish Dancing Championship at the Waterfront Hall yesterday. Picture by Ann McManus
Mia Dunlop from Bellaghy rehearses ahead of the World Irish Dancing Championship at the Waterfront Hall yesterday. Picture by Ann McManus Mia Dunlop from Bellaghy rehearses ahead of the World Irish Dancing Championship at the Waterfront Hall yesterday. Picture by Ann McManus