Esther McCarthy: I have nothing but respect for the children participating in Feis Maitiú

It takes grit to start over when you mess up

Esther McCarthy: It’s daunting, 10-year-old me would have died a death having to walk out. Picture: Emily Quinn

It might be hard to believe now, but I was painfully shy as a child — outside the house. At home, I was as brazen as the next kid, but in the glare of the gaze of the general public, I shrank. I hated people looking at me.

I remember the exquisite agony of being ushered out to dance in the Owenahincha Hotel where we used to go for holidays with my aunty. The band playing, everyone swinging, I would refuse point blank to go on the dance floor.