It's like one of those tasks which young men aspiring to princesses' hands are set in fairy tales: go forth and re-establish classical ballet in Ireland with a full-time company! The latest brave souls waiting to jump in are Anne Maher and Gunther Falusy, who have set up Ballet Ireland. The new company will present its first show, at the Gaiety, from September 29th, a series of highlights from Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nut- cracker, Adagio in Colour and Belle Epoque.

Maher and Falusy were working, until recently, at the Wiener Ballet Theatre in Vienna, she as principal ballerina, he as Artistic Director. However, the company folded, and Maher and Falusy decided to return full-time to Maher's roots in Ireland. The reason they could afford to take on such an enterprise, explains Falusy, is because they will be able to use many of the assets of the Wiener Ballet Theatre, from sets to lights and props.

They held auditions for their show in Dublin and in London, and have attracted six Irish dancers, all working in London, as well as dancers from Norway and France.

The Gaiety's box office number is 01-6771717.