Irish dancing is steeped in tradition, but the shoes dancers wear have continually evolved over the years. Changes in materials, manufacturing techniques, and performance demands have all shaped the development of Irish dance pumps, from simple traditional designs to the highly engineered styles seen today.
This guide looks back at some of the Irish dance pumps we have sold over the past 25 years that have since been discontinued. While no longer available, many of these styles played an important role in shaping modern pump design — and in most cases, there is now a contemporary equivalent that builds on what they started.
Loop Pumps (Discontinued Irish Dance Pumps)
Older Irish dancers will certainly remember these. The Loop pump was one of the most widely worn Irish dance pumps from the 1980s through to the early 2000s, at a time when there was far less choice than today. From beginners right through to World Champions, this was the standard soft shoe for many dancers.
The design was simple by today’s standards — a short toe shape with a traditional tan leather sole, minimal padding, and a basic lacing system. They also lacked the arch support and shaping that modern Irish dance pumps now offer, which means they feel very different compared to current styles.
Despite being overtaken by more advanced designs, Loop pumps remained popular with certain schools, particularly for beginners and Céilí teams who preferred a more traditional feel.
What replaced them?
For dancers and schools looking for a similar style after they were discontinued in 2023, the closest modern equivalent is the Gazelle pump.
It retains the traditional leather sole and overall shape, but introduces added padding and improved comfort, making it more suitable for today’s training demands.
We still receive regular enquiries asking if Loop pumps will return — which tells you everything about how well they were loved.
The good news is that we are currently looking at relaunching them later this year for selected schools in the USA who have continued to request them.
If you’d like to be updated on the return of the Loop pump, get in touch and we’ll keep you informed.
Elite Pumps (Discontinued Irish Dance Pumps)
The Elite was one of the most innovative Irish dance pumps of its era and introduced a number of features that were well ahead of their time, including dedicated left and right feet, a seam-free toe, a contoured heel and medical-grade Poron cushioning.
At the time, many Irish dance pumps were made from firmer leathers and had a more uniform shape. The dedicated left and right foot design allowed the Elite to follow the natural contours of the dancer's feet more closely, creating a more personalised fit and helping the pump feel like a second skin.
The Elite also featured a pre-shaped arch enhancer, split sole construction and a contoured heel designed to reduce heel bagging, making it one of the most technically advanced pumps available at the time.
Many of the ideas introduced by the Elite would later become common in Irish dance footwear. As newer generations of pumps adopted softer leathers and more adaptable constructions, they were able to accommodate a wider range of foot shapes without needing dedicated left and right shoes.
What replaced it?
While there was no direct successor to the Elite, many of its innovations influenced later performance-focused designs. Dancers looking for a modern equivalent would typically choose the Ava or Hullachan ranges, which continue to focus on fit, comfort and stage presentation.
Hullachan Pro 2 (Discontinued Irish Dance Pumps)
The Hullachan Pro 2 was a design innovation by Craig Coussins and was a follow to the still hugely popular Hullachan Pro 1.
It differed in that it was designed for dancer's with flat arches. The Hullachan Pro 2 had a specially shaped sole which flexed at a particular point to create an arch shape which dancing on your toes.
While judges don't mark your arch, they do notice the effect of one. A good arch profile makes your turnouts sharper and it creates a clean curved line down to your toes creating a finished and professional look.
So the Hullachan Pro 2 was popular with dancers with flatter feet who wanted an on stage boost to their arch profile. It was available in 3 widths to ensure the sole inflection happened at the sweet spot for a good arch.
Unfortunately the Hullachan 2 catered to quite a niche problem and was discontinued when Antonio Pacelli purchased Hullachan as the pump range from both companies was too large to be sustained and slower selling lines like the Hullachan Pro 2 or similar styles (Grace pumps) were discontinued.
Eclipse Pumps (Discontinued Irish Dance Pumps)
The Eclipse pump marked a significant shift away from traditional Irish dance pump design. It was one of the first styles to move away from pleated toe construction, instead introducing a smooth, seam-free toe that created a more streamlined and flattering appearance on stage.
It also featured a tapered black suede sole, in contrast to the tan leather soles used in more traditional designs. This not only enhanced the visual line of the foot but also contributed to a more modern overall look.
The tapered sole shape was another key innovation, allowing the pump to wrap more closely around the foot. This created a snug, contoured fit that helped accentuate a dancer’s natural arch.
In addition, the Eclipse introduced a Poron insole, offering a noticeable improvement in cushioning and comfort compared to earlier foam-padded models.
The Eclipse remained a top-selling pump for over a decade, but was eventually discontinued in 2020 as dancers began to transition towards newer designs, particularly the Ava pump.
What replaced it?
For dancers who previously chose the Eclipse, the Ava pump became the natural successor. It builds on the same modern design principles, offering improved materials, fit, and comfort while continuing the move away from more traditional pump styles.
Aoife Pumps (Discontinued Irish Dance Pumps)
The Aoife Irish dance pump by Inish Free was launched in 2014 and quickly became a popular choice with dancers looking for a more modern, pre-shaped pump. It featured a full Poron insole for cushioning and a non-pleated toe, which was relatively unusual at the time.
They were particularly popular with some schools in Ireland and the UK, but they did require careful fitting. The softer leather uppers made them comfortable, but also meant they stretched quickly. As a result, dancers often needed to start with a very tight fit to prevent the shoe becoming too loose and slipping at the heel.
Their popularity began to decline with the launch of the Ava pump by Antonio Pacelli. While similar in overall concept, the Ava introduced a more secure heel shape and a different leather that reduced excessive stretching, giving dancers a more stable and consistent fit.
The Aoife pump was discontinued in 2023 following the closure of the original factory that produced them. A similar pump under the same name was introduced by another company in 2025, but it has not seen the same level of uptake as the original.
What replaced them?
For dancers who previously wore the Aoife, the closest modern equivalent is the Ava pump. It retains the key features dancers liked — a pre-shaped design and cushioned feel — while improving fit, structure, and long-term support.
The Ava remains one of the most popular choices for dancers progressing beyond beginner level, offering a reliable step up before moving into more advanced, competition-focused styles such as Hullachan.
Grace Pumps (Discontinued Irish Dance Pumps)
It followed a similar design approach, with a short toe shape and defined arch seams to create a strong, competition-level arch profile. While the Grace proved popular with many dancers, the Hullachan Pro 1 had a key advantage in offering multiple width fittings, allowing for a more precise fit across a wider range of foot shapes.
Despite strong competition, the Hullachan Pro 1 retained its position as the leading pump among open and championship dancers.
The Grace pump was discontinued in 2016 following the acquisition of Hullachan by Antonio Pacelli. As part of this transition, Hullachan’s founder, Craig Cousins, joined as a design consultant and became a key part of the team behind later developments, including the Hullachan Pro 3 and the innovative Hullachan Hugs.
What replaced it?
For dancers who would have chosen the Grace pump, the natural alternative became the Hullachan Pro 1 — the very model it was originally designed to compete with. It offers the same competition-focused design, with a proven track record at the highest level, and remains a leading choice for advanced and championship dancers today.
Hullachan Unity Irish Dance Pumps (Discontinued Irish Dance Pumps)
The Unity pump was a white Irish dance pump introduced in 2014, originally developed for major Irish dance stage shows where the use of white footwear helped create dramatic contrast under stage lighting, drawing attention to footwork and movement.
It was later made available to dancers more widely and became a popular choice for performances, local shows, and special occasions. Many dancers also chose to wear them for events such as Holy Communion and even weddings, offering a way to bring Irish dancing into these moments.
Despite this niche appeal, demand was not consistent enough to support it as a regular stock line, and the Unity pump was discontinued in 2020.
Availability today
While no longer available as a standard product, the Unity pump is still produced on a made-to-order basis for major stage shows.
Antonio Pacelli also runs occasional production batches alongside these show orders. If you’re interested in a pair of white Irish dance pumps, you can get in touch to be notified when the next production run is scheduled.
Hullachan Coloured Irish Dance Pumps (Discontinued Irish Dance Pumps)
The introduction of the white Unity pump started a demand for coloured Irish dance pumps. So Antonio Pacelli launched Irish dance pumps in a range of colours; blue, green, red and the very popular gold leather.
These were illegal in competitions of course, but the colour options gave Irish dancers the opportunity to add flair and drama to local stage shows, school shows, St Patrick's performance, etc.. Performing has always been an important element in Irish dance and there is demand all year round for dancers to performance at festivals and events.
Availability today
As with the white Unity pump, the coloured versions are still made to order for the major stage shows. We would definitely recommend that you email in if you wanted a coloured pair as production is usually done once a quarter.