Irish dancers say "this is for Ireland" as they claim record with synchronized moves

“This is for Ireland,” dance troupe leader Sean O’Brien proudly declared as the talented ladies from Reel Irish Dance Entertainment claimed a world record.

Taking to the stage on our Italian TV show Lo Show dei Record, the dancers performed the most simultaneous Irish dancing front clicks in 30 seconds (female) – a total of 26.

And they certainly had the audience – and host Gerry Scotti – tapping their toes along with them.

With Sean at the centre, the Dublin-based dancers beamed big smiles as they performed to some traditional Irish music.

Gerry asked: “When did you start doing the dance? Although I know that there is a huge tradition, it's typical for an Irish guy to want to try to dance, but not everyone is as good at it as you.”

Sean told him: “Irish dance has always been part of my family, my sister used to dance, I started when I was very small, I was three years old. But I think that pretty much everyone learned in school at some point, because it's really a big tradition for us."

When asked about Irish dancing’s transition to officially becoming a sport, Sean added: “I think it became a sport in the last 15-20 years, today it's actually a very physical feat, for the legs, the whole body, we train seven times a week to be in good shape, and we have to eat really well, like a real sport. But that has changed only recently.”

After Sean introduced the dancing troupe to the audience, Guinness World Records Adjudicator Sofia Greenacre came out to the stage to explain what the ladies would have to do for their record attempt.

Read about more record-breaking dancers in our Sports and Fitness section.

Kicking their legs in the air, the sound of the ladies’ rhythmic tapping was almost hypnotic.

And of course, they absolutely smashed it.

Sofia said they had to do at least 20 clicks, and they easily surpassed it.

After leaving the stage, the ladies and Sean celebrated, whooping and cheering and holding their certificate up in the air.

“Well done, guys,” he told the dancers.

“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone here, we’ve done so much work for this. We’ve worked so hard and these are amazing dancers, so well done.”

Holding the certificate up above his head in celebration, Sean added: “This is for Ireland!”

And a Happy St Patrick’s Day to all who are celebrating today.