The McAleer Feis which was the vision of Kathleen McAleer BG. Kathleen saw the need here in Melbourne to give all dancers preparing for the State and National Championships, another opportunity to attend a competition. In 1998, the competition was held in one short day with less than 60 competitors entered. The McAleer Open Championship, as it known as today has numbers exceeding 300 competitors from all over Australia & Abroad, and today finds itself in this amazing theatre where the tradition continues.