Choose the correct music. The music is what gives Irish step-dancing its unique pace and vitality. Most commonly you will want to choose a reel, which is traditional folk music danced in soft shoes, or a jig, which lends itself to soft and hard shoe dances.
Learn the footwear. Much like tap dancing, a lot of the noise and spectacle comes from the impact of the shoes hitting the stage. You will need hard shoes (with fiberglass tips and heels) and soft shoes (with a leather sole and a very flexible body). Soft shoes are used for the slower, more delicate dances.
In Irish dance competitions points are lavished on those who have the best costume, and that philosophy has carried on into the amateur ranks. For an authentic Irish dance experience you should wear a traditional, furrowed and gentile dress. This costume has its origins from the concept of wearing your Sunday best to church. Male dancers are expected to wear a dark suit and colored shirt and generally look very smart and presentable.
There are no hard-and-fast rules governing the steps of Irish dancing; this is usually unique to a particular dance school or particular troupe, but invariably each step will consist of movements of the right foot, right leg and jumps that will last for eight bars of music, and then the same is repeated for the left foot, left leg and more jumps for the next eight bars.
The hard shoe dances contain several stamps, clicking and striking your toe off the stage for impact.
Hard shoe dances include the treble jig and hornpipe, which are performed solo, and the soft shoe dances contain the reel and jig.
Although you can read, and practice the steps all you want, there may be a point where you need someone to teach you in person.
A visit to the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America website will open up a world of opportunities, including finding an Irish dance teacher in your area to entering competitions or Irish dance events.
If you are keen to be self-taught then the Irish Dancing Online website provides an excellent service to that end. There are videos and pictures to walk you through some of the dances, and you can buy and sell some very authentic Irish dance paraphernalia.