Registered Teachers Mainland Europe is an expanding group of registered Irish dancing teachers living and teaching in mainland European countries. All teachers hold current registration with An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelacha - The Commission of Irish Dancing, the largest governing body of Irish dancing world-wide. The CLRG sets the highest standards for teachers, adjudicators and dancers alike and the RTME is its sole mainland European affiliate.

The Gaelic League created the CLRG in the late 1920s to establish standards for teachers and adjudicators of ID. As such, the CLRG is the oldest and most widely recognised custodian of this extremely popular facet of Irish culture. Since that time nine regional Councils have been established both in and outside of Ireland - in North America, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and most recently, mainland Europe. September 2003 saw the inauguration of a CLRG affiliate in mainland Europe under the name of Registered Teachers Mainland Europe. Since that date its membership has doubled to 24 teachers across 13 countries.

There can be no doubt that the establishment of Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne (World Irish Dancing Championships) in 1970 was the most significant development contributing to the rapid worldwide diffusion of Irish dancing. Many thousands of dancers dream of qualifying for this prestigious event but they must first qualify from their region at an event known in Gaelic as an Oireachtas.