Irish dancing has long been seen as one of Ireland's most recognisable and wholesome cultural exports, but in recent years, that image has been shaken by allegations of cheating and corruption at the very highest levels of competition.

In her new book dirty dancing, journalist Ellen Coyne traces how a so-called “feis-fixing” scandal exposed deep-rooted issues within what many describe as an insular and intensely competitive world, where the line between cultural tradition and elite sport has become increasingly blurred.