A troupe of Irish dancers are jigging for joy - and not just as part of one of their intricate routines.

It is because they have scooped a £10,000 grant.

Members of the Doyle Academy of Irish Dancing, who meet every Wednesday evening at the Rose Hill Community Centre in Oxford, have learned the group has been successful in its application for National Lottery funding.

Anne Marie Gallacher, who runs the dance school, said it was thanks to the parents of one of her students.

Mrs Gallacher said: "It was one of the parents, Richard Grant, who made the application and got the ball rolling.

"The first I knew about it was when I needed to give over the bank account details for the money. I am absolutely over the moon that we have got it. It is a big amount of money and will make the world of difference to us as parents won't have to work as hard to fund things."

Mrs Gallacher, who has been dancing since the age of four and is a former world champion dancer, said: "We will be using the money to buy two new sets of costumes for the girls, which can cost as much as £400 each, and some outfits for the boys.

"It will also be put towards funding more trips overseas.

"Last year, we went to Oxford's twin city Perm, in Russia, with the assistance of Oxford City Council, which cost £14,000."

The funding is part of the Awards for All initiative by the National Lottery, which focuses on grants for smaller, community-based groups and clubs.

As part of the funding, the dance group will have to match the funding provided and have so far raised £6,000 towards it. They have until December 2008 to raise the rest.

Mr Grant said the trip to Perm had inspired him to apply for the funding.

He said: "When we went to Russia, we saw some dance groups there and every time they came out for a different dance, they were wearing different outfits.

"I thought that we should try and do something about it. I'm delighted that we have got the funding and that it was all worth it in the end - it's very satisfying."

Mrs Gallacher's daughter, Georgina, 14, who is also a member of the dance group, said she was very happy they had won the funding.

She said: "It will be nice to have a variety of costumes to dance in, as we have had the same one for a bit now.

"Everyone is really excited."