Botany and Irish dancing - what connection could there possibly be? Dr John Cullinane of UCC is one person who knows. This Thursday, at the college, he will receive an MA on the history of Irish dancing in Cork from 1890 to 1940, the first of its kind, he believes, in the State.
Long before Riverdance and its stars began the revival of popular interest in Irish dance, Dr Cullinane was active in the area both as a dancer from a young age and somebody who wanted to chronicle its development.
For more than 35 years, he has lectured at the Plant Science Department of UCC. His speciality is seaweeds. When not delving into botanical science, his other passion has been to bring Irish dance to groups all over the world, to teach the intricacies and to further the cause. And also to explore the history of an art form that is very hip nowadays.
He has a particular interest in Irish dancing costumes, and for three decades and more has been collecting the thoughts of the tutors who made it possible for young people to become expert in a very special style of national dance. He has written six books about the history of Irish dancing, the costumes worn since they were first recorded, and how Irish dancing evolved in areas such as north America and outposts such as Australia.
Dr Cullinane is regarded as one of the foremost international Irish dance adjudicators. He is vice-chairman of the Irish Dance Commission, which sprang 70 years ago from the Gaelic League, and, while he is an authority on past styles, costumes and the evolution of the tradition, he is not displeased to see the Michael Flatleys and Jean Butlers bringing modern Irish dancing.
There is a palpable evolution, he says, and he is proud of it. It has moved the art form along: there is less rigidity and more expression. And he says it isn't as if the new resurgence happened in isolation from a tradition handed down for generations.
Rather it was a product of it. There would have been no Riverdance had there not been traditional Irish dancing in the first place. Irish dance might have remained a form peculiar to local and national competitions. But just like Irish traditional and popular music, there is a new confidence, a new belief.
It is a healthy thing, Dr Cullinane says, and it does not mean that the old style of dance must suffer. The standard competitions will ensure the purists will always have their day and that youngsters who aspire to greater things must first learn the initial, traditional steps. Both the evolutionary modern Irish dance form and the older one are safe, he says.
And he should know. Nowadays, when not lecturing on plant science, he is to be found all over the globe, not teaching the teachers of Irish dance, but examining them. Before a teacher is confirmed in his or her role, there is a rigorous examination. in which the panel consists of three people. There will always be two Irish dance experts on it. If the examination is in the US, the third panellist will be an American; if it is down under, an Australian will make up the triad; similarly in Mexico or any other part of the world.
One local, two of the Irish aficionados and most likely Dr Cullinane will be on the team. In his academic role, he marks examinations, but nothing, he says, is as gruelling as the exam for an Irish dance teacher.
If you wish is to teach Irish dance abroad, you must first sit a written examination displaying intimate knowledge of at least 30 ceili dances. When the written paper is over, the hopeful must show a recognition of the dance tunes - by ear - and describe their format and time signature.
Before the panel, each examinee must demonstrate the ability to teach ceili dances to a group of dancers not seen before and show that he or she is also nimble with the footwork. The test includes teaching solo dance.
You must also show that you know at least nine set dances as well as reels, jigs, hornpipes and slip jigs.
If this is easy, I'd rather sit one of Dr Cullinane's papers at UCC. But it just proves that Irish dance is an important thing, that it is being protected, and that it was just as important before the megastars arrived. Long may it flourish.