Ireland Is Up The Feckin' Pole...

It seems the old adage (that we just made-up) is true - there's a stripper inside of every woman just dying to get out. Well folks, last night that point was proved when one of our battle weary snappers wandered innocently into Dublin's Academy and found himself surrounded by skimpily dressed ladies sliding up and down poles like nobody's feckin' business. Before you start chucking Bibles at us - it was in fact Pole Dance Ireland Princess 2009 competition...

Eileen Caffrey (Louth)

We don't usually advertise the fact that our gutter press photo hounds like to sniff around back street basement venues where semi-naked ladies perform for their suppers on greased-up chrome poles. Until now that is... Ahem.

Catherine White (Dublin)

But there was NOTHING at all seedy about our lens men pointing their instruments in the general direction of the Pole Dancers doing their thing in The Academy last evening. Nothing seedy at all. Almost.

Winners: Klaudyna Kaskosz (Intermediate), Linda Blanc(Beginner), Catherine White (Advanced)

For it was all good clean fun folks and part of a new National fitness craze which involves young and old women alike from all backgrounds learning the hot and sexy art of pole dancing. And we're not surprised this malarkey keeps 'em fit. Talk about dancing on the ceiling.

Vanessa McGowan

Anyroad, Pole Dance Ireland Princess 2009 at The Academy was a great bit o' craic - winners on the night were: Klaudyna Kaskosz (Intermediate), Linda Blanc(Beginner), and Catherine White (Advanced)...

Ashley Cooper

After witnessing all of that the gym is getting knocked on the head and we're off down the local Fire Station with a bar of Fry Crisp & Dry for a wee work out. Sadly, there will be no fivers in our g-strings.

Eileen Caffrey (Louth)

Elaine O'Sullivan

Rachel Warwick (Louth)

Tania Ross (Belfast)

Catherine White (Dublin)

Linda Blanc, Sinead Cunningham

Tania Ross (Belfast)