I wrote this for the 2018 North American Irish Dancing Championships, but I reckon it applies to any Irish dancer!
An Irish Dancer’s
Blessing
O Lord, Our God, we give you thanks
for the talents you have bestowed
and we ask that you be with our dancers these days.
We ask, of course, for the obvious:
may they
remember their steps and
stay on
time with the music;
may their
team lines be straight,
and keep
all dancers on the correct foot.
Bless the
musicians with skill
and the
adjudicators with wisdom.
But bless them, Lord, with what may not be obvious:
A sense of
joy for having the chance to do what they love;
the gift of
good memories of hard work and laughter;
appreciation
for being part of a team and a tradition;
a feeling
of gratitude for the hard work and sacrifices of
their
parents and teachers.
Protect them from rolled ankles, collisions, wig
malfunctions, and dress mishaps.
May each walk on, each lead-around, and each bow be a
celebration of music and culture
and allow their dancing to be a prayer offered in your name
and to your greater glory.
We ask all this through Christ our Lord.
