Nothing to do with Irish dancing, but: Go to Amazon and check out this book - you'll never want to let your kid near any competitive arena again. It's bone-chilling.

Little Girls In Pretty Boxes: The Making And Breaking Of Elite Gymnasts And Figure Skaters, by Joan Ryan

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Girls-Pretty-Boxes-Breaking/dp/0446676829/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235594415&sr=1-1