Film gives glimpse into the glam world of Irish cheerleading

Dedication, ultra-fitness regimes, endless practice, a will to win, a life in the spotlight...

Many of us associate these terms with the world of sport, but on the sidelines of America’s pitches and fields for generations, these have been the strengths that have made cheerleaders into stars in their right.

Often associated with the razzmatazz of American football, it’s a glamorous world usually associated with girls and young women.

In recent years, cheerleading has been explored in TV shows and films, including the Emmy-winning Netflix reality series Cheer, which documented the team for the Navarro College Bulldogs of Corsicana, Texas, in the lead-up to the National Cheerleading Championship.

Now we are about to get a glimpse into the world of Irish cheerleading in the film Eat/Sleep/Cheer/Repeat on RTÉ1 on Thursday, October 17, at 10.15pm, which welcomes us to the spectacular world of competitive cheerleading in this country.

Forget pom-poms and girls on the sidelines, it takes blood, sweat, tears… and sparkle to be a world-class cheerleader.

This surprising and uplifting coming-of-age film follows the young female - and male - athletes of Team Ireland to intimately explore questions of gender, strength, performance, sexuality, and what it’s like growing up in the world today.

Can Team Ireland reach their goal of finishing top ten in the world, and can cheerleading give these athletes a space to find themselves?

Stars of the films include glamour queen Jessica, star athlete Jayleesa, Leaving cert student Bláthnaid; freedom-seeking Taylor; fun-loving Dean; and nice-guy Rickie. Each are searching for their place in the world through the sport they love.

As Hilton, their anxiety-crippled coach, battles to keep the team on track through a season of ill-discipline and injuries, we follow these underdog athletes’ journey to the World Championships in America.

From award-winning director Tanya Doyle (The House), with music by Stephen Rennicks & Hugh Drumm, Eat/Sleep/Cheer/Repeat is a feel-good documentary exploring the worlds of the young athletes finding where they belong.

Battling self-doubt while figuring out their place in the world, this is a story of the young women and men who don’t just want to fit in. They want to stand out.