Youth Ballet West, Galway

Youth Ballet West are delighted to have Irish choreographer Ruaidhrí Maguire working with the company for our upcoming contemporary performance, 'What's the Goss?'.

The company are really enjoying working with Ruaidhrí and together they are devising a piece of work that promises to be spectacular!

This commission has been made possible with the generosity of , and .

A bit about Ruaidhrí:
BA Professional Dance and Performance with First Class Honours, Central School of Ballet
Ruaidhrí is an Irish choreographer and ballet dancer currently working as a dancer with the National
Ballet of Ireland. Before that he danced with the Baltic Opera Ballet, Gdansk, Poland, where he was
the youngest male principal dancer performing leads in Giselle, The Nutcracker, Cinderella and Don
Quixote. Following graduation from Central School of Ballet, London, he danced with Milwaukee
Ballet II, USA and with Ballet Victoria, BC, Canada before dancing with his current company.

As a choreographer he premiered new works across the UK, Ireland, Canada, Poland and Japan.
Recent works include; ‘The Doppler Effect’ for The Belfast Ensemble in Marseille and Belfast, ‘The
Five Seasons’ at Ballet Victoria. Canada, ‘Beating Streets in City Hearts’ at the Baltic Opera in Gdansk,
‘After/Before’ at Dancer From the Dance Festival, Dublin. He has been a resident artist with Dance
Ireland and with Peter Quanz’s Q Dance, Canada.

Ruaidhrí is founder and artistic director of Six Dance Collective (SDC). SDC was founded further
develop ballet as an adventurous artform across the island of Ireland, through collaboration and
creating opportunities for the next generation of dancers. As Artistic Director of SDC, he produced a brand new two-act ballet ‘White Doves’ which took place at The MAC, Belfast Aug 2023 and is
working towards a brand new work ‘A View From Mars’ premiered in Feb 2025.

This Thursday we will say our final goodbye to a huge part of the Youth Ballet West team.
Psych (Mike) Byrne designed the lighting for every YBW show since our debut in 2007.

He very sadly passed away last week, aged 58.

He was an incredibly talented lighting designer and theatre technician who was well known for his generosity of spirit. No problem was too big or too small, no idea too challenging.

He always went above and beyond. Sheelagh Hayes, our costume designer, fondly remembers him sitting with her for hours as they sewed lights into skirts together.
He would make the dancers laugh by running across the stage on his tippy toes, often wearing a fetching pink tutu of his own! He truly was a part of our dance family.

We always knew we were in safe hands when Psych was in the theatre. We would sail through the stressful situations together, getting over difficulties with thanks to his supreme talents but also his wicked sense of humour.

The lights will be shining bright in Heaven now, no doubt. We will miss you, friend, rest in peace.

Death Notice of Mike (Psych) Byrne (Galway City, Galway) | rip.ie The death has occurred of Mike (Psych) Byrne of Galway City, Galway Ireland, on 22/01/2026. You can view the full death notice and add your condolences here.

Thought you missed out on tickets? Fear not!

10 seats have been added to each performance of 'Nutcracker in the Castle' this weekend at Claregalway Castle .
Saturday 5pm
Saturday 7pm
Sunday 11am

Tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/nutcracker-in-the-castle-tickets-1827811396089?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=1

Have you got a ticket to the most festive event of the year yet?
They are selling fast!

Tickets Here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nutcracker-in-the-castle-tickets-1827811396089?aff=oddtdtcreator

Youth Ballet West are proud to present their fundraising performance, 'Nutcracker in the Castle', in the enchanting setting of Claregalway Castle this Christmas.

Mingle with the dancing maids and party goers as you sip mulled wine and munch on candy canes. Experience the festive joy that only excerpts of the Nutcracker ballet can bring.
Enjoy the magical, Christmas atmosphere of the castle.

Date & Time:
Saturday 6th Dec 5pm & 7pm
Sunday 7th Dec 11am

Tickets €15. Booking fees apply.

Link to tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nutcracker-in-the-castle-tickets-1827846420849?aff=oddtdtcreator

YBW Auditions for the 25 /26 season are almost here!

To register, please email [email protected] with the following info:
Student's name
State Company or Junior Associates audition
Age
Dance School

Our fab fairies and elves are entertaining the crowds at Summer Garden Festival this weekend!

Catch them on TG4 tonight

Thanks to for the photo

Some fabulous shots of 'Outsider' by the wonderful Darachphotography