Nostalgia: Legendary figure who put Cork ballet on the map


It was one of many highlights in the career of the legendary dancer, choreographer and teacher, so synonymous with Cork and with ballet.

She moved to the city in 1940 and founded the Cork Ballet Group in 1947.

In 1973, the Irish government decided to fund a professional ballet company, entrusted to Moriarty: the Irish Ballet Company.

Ms Moriarty’s choreography was matched with music composed and played by The Chieftains and was also performed in Cork, of course, and throughout Ireland.

To celebrate the anniversary of that New York performance, we pay tribute to the great teacher herself but also the ballet culture which has been in place in Cork city for decades and continues to the present day.