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What is Fay's Irish Dancing Shoes?
Fay's Irish Dancing Shoes is a Dublin-based maker of handmade Irish dance footwear, producing both heavy shoes and light shoes. The company describes itself as a worldwide leader in high-quality Irish dancing shoe manufacturing and has been making shoes in Dublin since 1980. It also notes that its shoes have been worn by dancers in productions such as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, and offers a separate route for customers in the United States.
What the site covers
- Heavy shoes and light shoes – the two main product categories, each with a shop link.
- Workshop and history – background on the company's Dublin workshop and its heritage since 1980.
- Trade and wholesale – a dedicated path for wholesale enquiries and trade customers.
- Distributors – ways to find Fays shoes in different parts of the world.
- The Gavin by Fay's shoe – a newer model created with teacher and costume maker Gavin Doherty, presented as blending Fay's durability and craftsmanship with a new look, shape and fit.
H3. Who it is for The primary audience is Irish dancers choosing competition or performance footwear, plus teachers and costume makers who influence what dancers buy. A second audience is trade buyers and dance schools ordering in quantity. US-based customers are directed to a separate Fay's USA site rather than the main Irish one.
H3. What to weigh before buying Handmade construction and a long manufacturing history are the main selling points here, and the Riverdance and Lord of the Dance association signals stage-level use. The practical trade-offs are typical of specialist dance shoes: fit and sizing matter enormously, heavy and light shoes serve different purposes, and availability depends on where you are. If you are outside Ireland, the distributor page is the sensible first stop; if you are in the US, use the USA link. For sizing and model questions, contact the Dublin address or phone number listed on the site rather than guessing from the homepage.
A reasonable next step is to decide whether you need heavy or light shoes, then check the distributor or US options before ordering. For broader context on the dance form, see An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha.
How do I choose between heavy shoes and light shoes for Irish dancing?
Choose based on the dance you're doing, not on which shoe looks better. In Irish dancing, "heavy shoes" and "light shoes" are two distinct pieces of equipment for two distinct styles: heavy shoes (also called hard shoes) are for hardshoe dances like the hornpipe and treble reel, where the rhythmic, percussive footwork is the point. Light shoes (soft shoes, or ghillies for girls and reel shoes for boys) are for softshoe dances like the reel, light jig, slip jig and single jig, where you want quiet, fluid movement and pointed feet.
The practical differences
| Heavy shoes | Light shoes | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Loud, rhythmic percussion on the floor | Near-silent |
| Dances | Hornpipe, treble reel, traditional sets | Reel, light jig, slip jig, single jig |
| Feel | Heavier, stiffer, more support and stability | Light, flexible, close-fitting like a glove |
| Fit priority | Secure heel and ankle so the block doesn't shift | Snug across the arch and toes, no slipping at the heel |
A useful decision rule: if your teacher's class or your competition entry lists a hardshoe dance, you need heavy shoes; if it lists a softshoe dance, you need light shoes. Most dancers eventually own both, because a feis programme almost always includes both categories.
How to decide in practice
- Ask what level and discipline you're training for. A beginner often starts in light shoes only, since softshoe steps come first; hard shoe is introduced once basic technique and posture are settled. If you're already competing in both, you need both pairs.
- Fit matters more than brand loyalty. Irish dance shoes are unforgiving of a bad fit. Ghillies should feel tight but not painful, with the toe reaching the very end and no room for the heel to lift. Heavy shoes need a firm, locked-in heel so the fibreglass or wooden block strikes cleanly rather than wobbling.
- Consider the break-in period. Light shoes are usually soft leather and mould to the foot quickly. Heavy shoes take longer to soften at the uppers while the block stays rigid, so don't judge them on day one.
- Think about growth if you're buying for a child. Children's feet change fast, and heavy shoes are the more expensive purchase. Some families size light shoes snugly and heavy shoes with a little more room, but never so much that the heel slips.
- Buy from a specialist, not a general sports shop. Irish dance shoes are made on dedicated lasts. Fays has been making them in Dublin since 1980 and supplies dancers including Riverdance and Lord of the Dance performers, and it separates its range into heavy shoes and light shoes; US-based customers are pointed to a separate American operation. See Fays Irish Dancing Shoes for the ranges and Fay's Shoes USA if you're ordering from the United States — check the current site before assuming the US domain, since the Irish site links out to it.
Next step: before ordering, ask your teacher which specific dances you'll be examined or competing in this season, then try both types on in person if you can. If you can only buy one pair now, buy the type required by the dance you're currently working on — a beautiful pair of heavy shoes is useless for a slip jig, and vice versa.
Where can I buy Fay's Irish Dancing Shoes in the United States?
Buy from Fay's USA, the dedicated US arm linked from the Irish site's "Based in the US?" prompt. The Irish page states that US customers should click through to Fay's in the USA, so that is the intended route for American buyers rather than ordering internationally from Dublin.
Fays Irish Dancing Shoes is the main site: handmade Irish dance footwear made in Dublin since 1980, with separate heavy shoe and light shoe ranges, a workshop/history section, news, and a trade/wholesale enquiry route. It also lists distributors for other parts of the world, which matters if you are buying outside the US or want a local fitting.
The US site is the practical next step for American buyers:
- Check stock and sizing first. Heavy shoes and light shoes are sold as distinct product lines, so confirm which type you need before browsing.
- Compare the US and Irish sites. The Irish site notes the US site for American customers; if a style or size is missing in the US, the distributor page may point to another route.
- Use the trade route if buying for a school or shop. The Irish site invites wholesale and trade enquiries directly.
For a concrete scenario: a dancer in Boston who needs a replacement pair before a feis should start at Fay's USA, check the heavy or light shoe category, and confirm delivery timing before ordering. A teacher buying multiple pairs should use the trade enquiry option instead of ordering pair by pair.
If you are outside the US, use the distributors page on Fays Irish Dancing Shoes to find supply in your region.
What makes Fay's Irish Dancing Shoes different from other Irish dance shoe brands?
Fay's differentiates itself mainly through its long manufacturing heritage and its focus on handmade construction. The Dublin workshop has been making Irish dancing shoes since 1980, and the site describes the company as a worldwide leader in high-quality Irish dancing footwear. That positions it as a specialist maker rather than a general dancewear retailer.
Its product range is split into heavy shoes and light shoes, with separate shop entries for each. The brand also highlights durability and performance in its messaging, and notes that its shoes have been supplied to dancers in Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. For buyers comparing brands, that combination of a long-established workshop, handmade production and stage-show associations is the main point of difference.
Fay's has also released a shoe created with teacher and costume maker Gavin Doherty, called Gavin by Fay's. The site describes it as blending Fay's existing quality, durability and craftsmanship with a new look, shape and fit. This matters if you want a Fay's shoe with a different aesthetic or fit from the standard range.
Practical differences to weigh
- Heritage and specialisation: Since 1980, the workshop has concentrated on Irish dancing shoes rather than a broad dance catalogue.
- Handmade construction: The site's central claim is handmade, high-quality footwear, which may appeal to dancers who prioritise traditional craft.
- Two clear categories: Heavy shoes and light shoes are sold separately, making it easier to match the shoe to the dance style.
- Collaboration option: Gavin by Fay's offers an alternative fit and appearance within the same brand.
- Distribution: There are trade and distributor routes, plus a separate Fay's USA option for customers based in the United States.
If you are deciding between brands, start by identifying whether you need heavy or light shoes, then compare fit and durability based on the style you actually dance. A useful next step is to look at the heavy and light shoe sections on Fay's Irish Dancing Shoes and, if you are in the US, check the linked Fay's USA option before ordering.
How do I become a wholesale or trade customer for Fay's shoes?
To become a trade or wholesale customer, use the trade enquiry route on Fays Irish Dancing Shoes: the site's "Trade Customers" section states that wholesale enquiries and trade customers are always welcome and directs you there for further details. That is the correct starting point rather than the general shop or contact page, because trade terms, minimum order quantities and pricing are handled separately from retail.
Practical steps:
- Open the Trade Customers section and send an enquiry with your business details.
- Explain what you sell: dance school shop, retail footwear store, online reseller, or feis/competition supplier.
- State the markets you cover and whether you already stock other Irish dance brands.
- Ask directly about minimum order quantities, wholesale price lists, lead times, shipping terms and returns.
- If you are outside Ireland, also check the Distributors section — for some regions, buying through an existing distributor may be faster and cheaper than setting up a direct trade account.
A useful decision criterion: if you need small, occasional quantities, a distributor is usually the better fit; if you can commit to regular bulk orders and want direct terms, a wholesale account with the workshop makes more sense. Fays has been making Irish dancing shoes in Dublin since 1980 and describes itself as a worldwide leader in high-quality Irish dancing shoe manufacture, so expect trade conversations to focus on volume and continuity rather than one-off purchases.
If you are based in the US, note that the site provides a separate US operation, which may be the more practical contact for North American trade enquiries.
Next step: draft a short enquiry email covering your business type, typical order volume, and target market, then send it via the trade contact details on the site.
What is the Gavin by Fay's shoe and how does it fit compared to standard Fay's shoes?
The Gavin by Fay's is a newer Irish dancing shoe made by Fay's in collaboration with Gavin Doherty, a teacher and costume maker. The site describes it as blending Fay's usual quality, durability and craftsmanship with a new look, shape and fit. It is a distinct model rather than a replacement for the standard Fay's range, which continues to include the familiar heavy and light shoes.
What makes it different
- It is a collaboration model. The design input comes from a dance teacher and costume maker, so the styling and fit are aimed at dancers who want a more contemporary shape alongside traditional build quality.
- Fit is the key change. Fay's presents the Gavin shoe as having its own shape and fit, not simply a recoloured version of an existing style. That matters because Irish dance shoes are unforgiving: a slightly different last or toe box can change how a dancer feels the floor and how quickly a shoe breaks in.
- The standard range remains the reference point. Traditional Fay's heavy and light shoes are the baseline most dancers and teachers know. If you already wear a standard Fay's style comfortably, the Gavin model is the one to try when you want a different fit or appearance.
How to choose between them There is no universal "better" fit. Dancers with a standard Fay's shoe that already feels secure and broken in have little reason to switch unless they want the Gavin styling. Dancers who find their current pair too narrow, too broad, or awkward around the toe may find the Gavin shape worth trying. Because fit varies by foot shape, the practical step is to try both if you can, or ask a teacher or experienced fitter who has seen the Gavin shoe on other dancers.
If you are outside Ireland, check the distributor information on Fay's Shoes before ordering, and note that the site also points US customers to a separate Fay's USA operation. For sizing and break-in questions specific to the Gavin model, contact Fay's directly rather than relying on general Irish dance shoe advice, since the whole point of this shoe is its different fit.
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