Doherty's Carson and Taylor Defend Irish National Irish Dancing Championship Titles: Top 5 Ladies Results

Therese Corless, 2012 Ladies 19-20 Champion with 3rd place Niamh O'Sullivan
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championships
Photo courtesy Therese Corless

At the Irish National Irish Dancing Championships Sunday, several of the ladies' competitions brought smiles and tears to long-time friends and competitors in Dublin.  2012 World Irish Dancing Champion Therese Corless from Aaron Crosbie topped the podium for Ladies 19-20.  Amy Monaghan, who came in 2nd, also placed 2nd in her age group at the All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships to England's Jessica Hindley.

Top 5 Ladies 19-20

Champion Therese Corless from Aaron Crosbie in Munster Region
2-Amy Monaghan from Siobhan McDonnell in Connaught Region
3-Niamh O'Sullivan from Elaine Kavanagh in Leicester Region
4-Rachel Hallahan from Higgins in Munster Region
5-Rachel O'Meara Curran from Doherty in Ulster Region

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Sinead Carson (right) Ladies 17-18 Champion with 3rd place Anne-Marie Keany
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championships
Photo courtesy Sinead Carson

Sinead Carson and Niamh Taylor, 2012 World Irish Dancing Champions from Doherty clinched the 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championship for Ladies 17-18 and 18-19, respectively, in Dublin.

Top 5 Ladies 17-18

Champion Sinead Carson from Doherty in Ulster Region
2-Eadaoin McGinley from Croghan-Greene in Munster Region
3-Anne Marie Keany from Hession in Connaught Region
4-Muriel Burke from Mona Ni Rodaigh in Ulster Region
5-Beth Gorman from Doherty in Ulster Region

Top 5 Ladies 18-19
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championships
Photo courtesy Melanie Kane (far left)

Niamh Taylor holds four World Irish Dancing Championship titles from 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012.  Top 3 in Ladies 18-19, Taylor, Clodagh Roper and Tara Walsh were, respectively, the three highest-placing Irish competitors in Ladies 18-19 at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships.  4th place Chelsea Kane and 5th place Niamh McMahon also each placed in the Top 20 at 2012 Worlds.

Top 5 Ladies 18-19

Champion Niamh Taylor from Doherty in Ulster Region
2-Clodagh Roper from Domican in Ulster Region
3-Tara Walsh from Higgins in Munster Region
4-Chelsea Kane from Cresham Academy in Connaught Region
5-Niamh McMahon from Jackie O'Leary in Leicester Region

Claire Greaney, Rebecca Loughran and Clare McDermott
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championships
Photo courtesy Norah Loughran

2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion Claire Greaney, who placed 2nd at the 2012 Worlds to Suzanne Coyle from Scotland, is the 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion for Senior Ladies.  Two additional ladies who placed in the Top 10 at 2012 Worlds - Loughran and Callanan-Ryan - claimed the 2nd and 3rd placements in Dublin.  McDermott and Caden, who placed 4th and 5th in the Irish National Irish Dancing Championships, were also Top 20 in the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships.

Top 5 Senior Ladies Over 20

Champion Claire Greaney from Hession in Connaught Region
2-Rebecca Loughran from Doherty in Ulster Region
3-Ciara Callanan-Ryan from Michael Ryan in Munster Region
4-Clare McDermott from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue in Ulster Region
5-Ann-Marie Caden from Elaine Kavanagh in Leicester Region


Like us on Facebook, comment in the box below, Tweet this post to your friends or follow us here on Irish Central's Irish dance page!  Feis America LLC is the world's most respected media feed for Irish dance and has been selected by the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America to provide live commentary and results at the 2012 North American National Irish Dancing Championships!

Irish National Irish Dancing Championships More Teen Girls Top 5 Solo Results

Irish National Irish Dancing Championships 2012
Top Five Girls 15-16
Photo Breda Gregan

The 2012 Irish National Dancing Champion for Girls 15-16, Ellen Kennedy, placed 9th at Worlds and 10th at the All-Irelands.  Shauna Ryan, who placed 4th at the Irish Nationals, was the highest-placing Irish dancer in her age group at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships, taking 5th place in both Belfast and at the 2012 All Irelands.  Rounding out the Irish Nationals Top 3 was Codie Shiels who placed 6th at Worlds and 4th at the All Irelands in 2012. Top 5 Girls 15-16 Champion Ellen Kennedy from O'Connor in Connaught Region 2-Rachel Galligan from Lyons in Ulster Region 3-Codie Shiels from Doherty in Ulster Region 4-Shauna Ryan from Scoil Ui Nuallain in Munster Region 5-Ann-Marie McDonnell from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue in Leicester Region Cyra Taylor, who tied with North America's Melanie Valdes for the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championship, won the Girls 13-14 event at last weekend's Irish National Irish Dancing Championships in Dublin.  Taylor also is the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion in her age group.  Meghan Bonner placed third at both the Irish Nationals and Worlds this year. Cyra Taylor wins Girls 13-14 Irish National Irish Dancing Championship 2012 Photo courtesy Scoil Rince McConomy Bradley Top 5 Girls 13-14 Champion Cyra Taylor from McConomy Bradley in Ulster Region 2-Aine McGill from McNelis Cunningham in Ulster Region 3-Meghan Bonner from Bonner-Cannon in Ulster Region 4-Rebekah Bell from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue in Leicester Region 5-Aoife Cremins from Croghan-Greene in Munster Region --------------------- Read more: Irish National Irish Dancing Championships team results New York Irish Dance Company on America's Got Talent Taylor and Valdes share 2012 World Irish Dancing Championship title ---------------------- Shannon Bradley clinched the 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championship for Girls 14-15.  Bradley also holds three World Irish Dancing Championship and All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship titles, including 2012.  Amymae Dolan, the 2010 World Irish Dancing Champion took second at both the Irish Nationals, All Irelands and World Irish Dancing Championships this year. Shannon Bradley Girls 14-15 World, All Ireland and Irish National Dancing Champion 2012 Photo courtesy Bradley Family Top 5 Girls 14-15 Champion Shannon Bradley from Doherty in Ulster Region 2-Amymae Dolan from Carson in Ulster Region 3-Olivia Murray from Mona Ni Rodaigh in Ulster Region 4-Caitlin Simpson from Elaine Kavanaugh in Leicester Region 5-Amy Harley from Doherty in Ulster Region Congratulations to all who qualified and competed, and special congratulations to the Top 5 and their teachers on an amazing weekend! Like us on Facebook, comment in the box below, Tweet this post to your friends or follow us here on Irish Central's Irish dance page!  Feis America LLC is the world's most respected media feed for Irish dance and has been selected by the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America to provide live commentary and results at the 2012 North American National Irish Dancing Championships!

All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion Slemon Clinches Irish National Title: Saturday Boys Results 5

Sean Slemon
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Boys 9-10
Photo courtesy Annette Foley Slemon

Sean Slemon, the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion for Boys 9-10, claimed the Irish National Irish Dancing Championship title Saturday in Dublin.  Slemon, who dances with Rinceoiri na Riochta in the Munster Region of Ireland, was followed by his friendly rival Jack Lynch from Ui She.  Lynch placed 2nd at the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships.

Top 5 Boys 9-10
Champion Sean Slemon from Rinceoiri na Riochta in Munster Region
2-Jack Lynch from Ui She in Leicester Region
3-Cathal Doughan from Gleann Oir in Munster Region
4-Thomas Colangelo from McCafferty in Ulster Region
5- Ryan Miskelly from Brennan Miskelly McCormick in Ulster Region

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In the Boys 10-11 competition, Ronan McKiernan topped the podium.  McKiernan, placed 3rd at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships and 5th at the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships.  Placing 2nd at the Irish Nationals, Ray Shanahan  from Kiely-Walsh tied his 2nd placements at both the 2012 Worlds and 2012 All Irelands.  Adam McGhee who placed 3rd was also in the Top 5 for this age group at the 2012 Worlds.


Top 5 Boys 10-11
Champion Ronan McKiernan from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue in Ulster Region
2-Ray Shanahan from Kiely-Walsh in Munster Region
3-Adam McGhee from Coleman in Connaught Region
4-Ciaran Rodden from McConomy Bradley in Ulster Region
5-Christoper Reaney from Coleman in Connaught Region

Eoghain Murphy
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Boys 16-17
Photo courtesy Eoghain Murphy

Eoghain Murphy, the 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion for Boys 16-17, placed 3rd at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championship after Champion Caolan McKeating-Lynch and 2nd place Richard Murray.  Murray, from Higgins also took 2nd place at the Irish Nationals and 3rd at the All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships in 2012.  Michael Gardiner, who came in 4th in Dublin Saturday, was also in the Top 5 for all three major 2012 Irish dancing competitions.

Top 5 Boys 16-17

Champion Eoghan Murphy from Mona Ni Rodaigh in Ulster Region
2-Richard Murray from Higgins in Munster Region
3-Eoghan O'Neill from Siobhan McDonnell in Connaught Region
4-Michael Gardiner from Hession in Connaught  Region
5-Matthew Gillespie from Hession in Connaught Region

Congratulations to all who qualified and placed at the 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championships!


Stay tuned for more results from the Irish National Irish Dancing Championships Sunday competitions right here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog.

Like us on Facebook, comment in the box below, Tweet this post to your friends or follow us here on Irish Central's Irish dance page!  Feis America LLC is the world's most respected media feed for Irish dance and has been selected by the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America to provide live commentary and results at the 2012 North American National Irish Dancing Championships!

World Irish Dancing Champion Kelly Clinches Nationals: Top 5 Results

Ronan Kelly
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Boys 11-12
shown here as 2011 World Irish Dancing Champion
Photo courtesy Sylvan-Kelly

Two-time World Irish Dancing Champion and All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion Ronan Kelly has won the Irish National Irish Dancing Championship for Boys 11-12.

The 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championships, hosted at CityWest in Dublin by An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, is taking place this weekend.  In the Girls 11-12 and 12-13 events, two-time World Irish Dancing Champions Keeva Corry and Brogan McCay topped the podium as well.

Conor Stack, who placed second at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships to Kelly's first, followed suit in Dublin with his second placement.  Both Conor Macklin and Darragh McGranaghan, 3rd and 4th respectively, placed in the Top 10 in this year's World and All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships.

Gerard Byrne
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Boys 12-13
shown here in 2nd place at 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships
Photo courtesy John Whitehurst

2011 World Irish Dancing Champion and 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion Gerard Byrne won the Boys 12-13 Irish National Irish Dancing Championship.  After winning the 2012 All Ireland title, Byrne placed second at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships after Carey's John Whitehurst reclaimed that title.  Also in the Irish Nationals Top 5 were Matthew Gardiner and Cian Walsh; each placed in the Top 5 at the 2012 World and All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships.

Two competitors in the Boys 12-13 Top 5 dance with Kiely-Walsh in the Munster Region of Ireland.

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Top 5 results (full results available at FeisResults) are as follows:

Boys 11-12
Champion Ronan Kelly from Sylvan Kelly in Connaught Region
2-Conor Stack from Fleming Ball in Munster Region
3-Conor Macklin from Brennan Miskelly McCormick in Munster Region
4-Darragh McGranaghan from Smith McCarron in Ulster Region
5-Eoghan Boyce from McConomy in Ulster Region

Boys 12-13

Champion Gerard Byrne from McNelis Cunningham in Ulster Region
2-Matthew Gardiner from Hession in Connaught Region
3-Aaron O'Flynn from Kiely-Walsh in Munster Region
4-Cian Walsh from Kiely-Walsh in Munster Region
5-Brendan Kerr from Doherty in Ulster Region

Congratulations to all who qualified and good luck to the rest of the weekend's competitors!



Stay tuned for more results from the Irish National Irish Dancing Championships Sunday and Monday right here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog.

Like us on Facebook, comment in the box below, Tweet this post to your friends or follow us here on Irish Central's Irish dance page!  Feis America LLC is the world's most respected media feed for Irish dance and has been selected by the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America to provide live commentary and results at the 2012 North American National Irish Dancing Championships!

Irish National Irish Dancing Championships Girls Solo Saturday Results

Top 5 Irish National Irish Dancing Championship Girls 16-17
Photo courtesy Sinead Maguire

The Irish National Irish Dancing Championships, hosted by An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, continued on Saturday with three girls' solo competitions as well as boys' and team events.

Siobhan Phelan, 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Girls 9-10
with teachers Bernadette Flynn and Damien O'Kane, TCRG
Photo courtesy Flynn O'Kane Academy

Champion Siobhan Phelan is the first Irish National Irish Dancing Champion to come out of the Flynn O'Kane Academy of Irish Dancing, founded by Lord of the Dance phenomenons Bernadette Flynn and husband Damien O'Kane TCRG.  Aesha Coyle, the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion for Girls 9-10 placed second.  Emma Manion, who placed 4th at the 2012 All Irelands, placed 3rd in Dublin Saturday.

Girls 9-10
Champion Siobhan Phelan from Flynn O'Kane in Munster Region
2-Aeisha Coyle from McConomy Bradley in Ulster Region
3-Emma Mannion from Geraghty in Connaught Region
4-Rosie Kavanagh from Scoil Rince Ui Bhriain in Munster Region
5-Emily Keane from Geraghty in Connaught Region

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Champion for the Girls 10-11, Emma Casey, is also the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships.  Clodagh Davis, from Carson, placed 2nd at Worlds and 2nd at the Irish Nationals.  Leah Carter, who placed 4th at the Irish Nationals took 3rd place at the 2012 Worlds.

Girls 10-11
Champion Emma Casey from McConomy in Ulster Region
2-Clodagh Davis from Carson in Ulster Region
3-Nicole McConway from McConomy Bradley in Ulster Region
4-Leah Carter from Anthony Costello in Munster Region
5-Lara Ni Oisin from Scoil Rince Ui Bhriain from Munster Region

Girls 16-17 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Layla Healy placed second at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships after three-time consecutive World Champion Michaela Hinds.  Three of the Irish National Top 5 Girls 16-17 also placed in the Top 5 at the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships: Laura Casey 3rd, Etain Mulvenna 4th and Layla Healy 5th.

Girls 16-17
Champion Layla Healy from Fegan in Leicester Region
2-Etain Mulvenna from Mulvenna in Ulster Region
3-Sinead Maguire from Doherty in Ulster Region
4-Megan Brady from Armstrong in Ulster Region
5-Laura Casey from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue in Leicester Region

Full results for these competitions as well as Friday's events may be seen at FeisResults.


Stay tuned for more results from the Irish National Irish Dancing Championships Sunday and Monday right here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog.


Like us on Facebook, comment in the box below, Tweet this post to your friends or follow us here on Irish Central's Irish dance page!  Feis America LLC is the world's most respected media feed for Irish dance and has been selected by the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America to provide live commentary and results at the 2012 North American National Irish Dancing Championships!

World Irish Dancing Champions Brogan McCay and Keeva Corry Clinch Irish National Titles

Keeva Corry
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Girls 11-12
Photo courtesy Camelia Rose

Keeva Corry, the two-time 2011 and 2012 World Irish Dancing Champion and 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion from Croghan-Greene in the Munster Region of Ireland has clinched the Irish National Irish Dancing Championship for Girls 11-12.

Brogan McCay
2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Girls 12-13
Photo courtesy McCay Family

The 2011 and 2012 World Irish Dancing Champion Brogan McCay, whose claims to fame include a starring role in Jig! The Film, is the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion for Girls 12-13.  McCay dances with McConomy Bradley in the Ulster Region of Ireland.

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Top 5 Results (view full results at FeisResults) for Girls 11-12 and 12-13 are as follows:

Girls 11-12
Champion Keeva Corry from Croghan-Greene in Munster Region
2-Liadh McGrath from Sylvan Kelly in Connaught Region
3-Rachel Cummins from Linda Martyn in Connaught Region
4-Niamh Neale from Doherty in Ulster Region, Ireland
5-Sophie Mayse from McConomy in Ulster Region

Girls 12-13
Champion Brogan McCay from McConomy Bradley in Ulster Region
2-Roisin Naughton from Coleman in Connaught Region
3-Alannah Lynch from Ui She in Leicester Region
4-Laura Cotton from McNeilis Cunningham in Ulster Region
5-Olivia Gough from Doherty in Ulster Region

Congratulations to all those who qualified to compete and who placed today at the Irish National Irish Dancing Championships in Dublin, Ireland.



Stay tuned for more results from the Irish National Irish Dancing Championships Sunday and Monday right here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog.


Like us on Facebook, comment in the box below, Tweet this post to your friends or follow us here on Irish Central's Irish dance page!  Feis America LLC is the world's most respected media feed for Irish dance and has been selected by the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America to provide live commentary and results at the 2012 North American National Irish Dancing Championships!

Romance Rocks World Irish Dancing Championships for Jade Bridgewater and Mitchell Hodges

Jade Bridgewater, 4th place Girls 15-16 and Mitchell Hodges, 2nd place Boys 15-16
2012 World Irish Dancing Championships
Photo:  Callum Bridgewater

Jade Bridgewater and Mitchell Hodges had an extra special reason for enjoying the World Irish Dancing Championships this year.  The teenagers are competitive Irish dancers in both solo and team events, with impressive records that include Top Five in all the major international events.  But spending the whole week together in Belfast, Northern Ireland - in addition to their Top Five placements in the 15-16 events - was the icing on the cake, according to Hodges.

The two have known each other for some time, but it was only on this past New Year's Eve that they started dating.  Bridgewater, who has been dancing since age 4 (now with Doherty Academy of Irish Dance Coventry) lives in Birmingham, England.  Hodges, whose home is in Bristol, England commutes about two hours each way to Birmingham, where he practices with Carey Academy of Irish Dance.  He started dancing at five years old because his older siblings did.

Let the celebration begin!
Photo courtesy Bridgewater Family

Jade explains how she and Mitchell met, "I have always seen Mitchell around the dance competitions, but I have never really spoken to him probably until recent months.  My best friend, Leah Skerrett, who dances at the same school as Mitchell, was messaging me whilst at dance class and Mitchell went on her phone and started to message me.  We started to talk and get to know each other and it went from there."

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Mitchell Hodges 2011 North American National Irish Dancing Champion
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Generally, the couple gets to spend time together after Saturday dance classes with Hodges returning to Bristol the next day by train.  When asked about dating girls that are not Irish dancers, Mitchell is honest:  "It was so hard as I was always training and spending time in Birmingham on weekdays and weekends and on school holidays I would spend most of my time at workshops or at competitions all week so I couldn't spend enough time with them."

So happy together! Post podium celebration for Jade and Mitchell
Photo courtesy Bridgewater Family

Bridgewater currently holds titles as the All-Scotland Irish Dancing Champion, Great Britain Irish Dancing Champion and British National Irish Dancing Champion.  Her past record includes winning the All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship in 2006 and North American National Irish Dancing Championship in 2009.  She has also won her regional Irish dancing championship for the last six years.  At Worlds this year, Jade was the highest-placing non-North American in Girls 15-16, taking the 4th position on the podium.  She placed 3rd at her first World Irish Dancing Championships in Girls 10-11.

Hodges, in addition to placing 2nd at both the 2012 All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship and World Irish Dancing Championship, is a six-time World Irish Dancing Championship team member.  He won the North American National Irish Dancing Championships for Boys 14-15 in 2011 and  has placed as high as 3rd at the All-Scotland, Great Britain and British National Irish Dancing Championships.

Kelly, Jade and Dad Callum Bridgewater with Mitchell Hodges
Photo courtesy Bridgewater Family

Mitchell's whole family danced, but now it is just he and his younger sister Ellie who compete.  Bobby, Mitchell's older brother, is currently "The Lord" in Lord of the Dance Troupe 2, with whom he has performed since 2008.  Kelly Bridgewater, Jade's older sister, is also an accomplished competitive Irish dancer at age 19.  Jade and Kelly are members of Doherty's 2012 World Champion Girls' Ceili Team.

Jade shares that Mitchell gets along really well with her family, and that the Bridgewater and Hodges families get along great too. "They really encourage the relationship and think we are good for each other," she says.

With such a handsome and talented couple starting the New Year together, surely 2012 will see many of their Irish dancing dreams come true!


Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like us on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!

World Irish Dancing Championships: North American Men 19-21 Clinch Top 4 PHOTOS

Good friends and competitors in Men 19-21
2012 World Irish Dancing Championships
Photo: Michael Mullane

Brendan Mullane. Michael Putman. Tyler Schwartz. If you know anything at all about competitive Irish dancing at the Open Champion level in North America, these names are almost as familiar as Michael Flatley. Just back after the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships, the gifted men claimed the 2nd, 3rd and 4th placements in the Mens 19-21 competition, to the delight of the Mid-America region and all of North America!

Top Ten Men 19-21
2012 World Irish Dancing Championships
Photo: Michael Mullane

What is not known to many outside mid-America and the intimate world of international competitors is just how deeply-rooted the friendship is among these three young men. Now young adults, they have been more than rivals for better than ten years. It is to their credit that, as boys, they recognized that they had more in common than their passion and skill at Irish dancing. So at the 2011 Mid-America Regional Irish Dancing Championships, when Putman won, Mullane came in 2nd and Schwartz took 3rd, they celebrated as the Top Three.

From three different Irish dance schools all in the greater Chicago, Illinois area, Mullane, Putman and Schwartz found themselves among a small minority at feiseanna while female competitors numbered in the hundreds and thousands. As a result, boy dancers and their families tend to bond rather quickly and find themselves rooting for all, not one. In the grade-level competitions, girls and boys are usually combined and compete against one another in age-level events. Even at the Preliminary and Open Champion levels, boys' age groups are often combined. So while Mullane and Putman are a year younger than Schwartz, 2012 is not the first time the three have competed against each other.

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Mullane, who placed 3rd at the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships and 4th at Worlds, dances and teaches at Mullane-Healy-Godley Academy of Irish Dance. He remembers, "When we were younger we would always compete [at feiseanna] and no matter what the places ended up we were all still friends, [we] never hated each other."

Putman ties rival Mullane's shoes before practicing... now that's trust!
Photo: Kevinah Dargan

Putman interviewed with Feis America while visiting his great buddy Brendan Mullane at school. He says, "I consider Tyler one of my good friends but Brendan is by far one of the best. We never got along because we were always rivals, but when we grew up we both realized how well we get along and now we hang out at every opportunity. We talk about everything normal friends talk about which means our friendship goes past dance."

Their individual competitive records are all impressive. Putman, from Dennehy School of Irish Dance has topped the podium - TWICE - as 2009 World Irish Dancing Champion and 2010 All-Ireland Irish Dancing Champion. Competing for the first time in the Men 19-21 event at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championship, Putman says, "I got third which I'm thrilled with considering how talented the competition was!"

Schwartz, who dances and teaches at the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance, placed 2nd at both the 2011 and 2012 All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championships, and placed 2nd and 3rd at the 2012 and 2011 World Irish Dancing Championships, respectively. As both Mullane and Putman moved up to the Men's 19-21 age group this year, it is the first year that the three friends have competed in the same event at the Worlds level.

Schwartz says, "We're all focused competitors trying to win the competition, but at the end of the day we're all really good friends. Some of these guys I've known for many years now, so it makes the competitions that much more fun!"

Brendan Mullane, 4th and Tyler Schwartz, 2nd
Men 19-21
Photo: Michael Mullane

Mullane says that the friendship among the competitors reduces the pressure at major competitions. "It's just amazing how this competition has people from all of the world and the three of us - Tyler, Mike and I - [who] have been great friends since were ten all placed in the Top Five! I think that competing against each other growing up really helps us at these major competitions."

All three are now focused on the North American National Irish Dancing Championships which will take place in early July in their backyard, Chicago.  Can anyone predict where these three will be in five years?  You may rest assured that, whatever comes their way, they will stay lifelong friends!


Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like Feis America Magazine on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!

Culkin School's Champion Simone Loysen shares "An Irish Dancer's Oath"

Simone Adele Loysen from Culkin School of Irish Dance
2011 Southern Regional Champion Girls under 9
Photo Steph School

Simone Adele Loysen, the 2011 Southern Region Irish Dancing Champion for Girls under 9, has an awful lot to be proud of.  A first-time competitor at the recent All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championships in Dublin, Ireland, Simone placed 23rd!  She also managed to bring home some sage advice to share with Irish dancers from the Culkin School of Irish Dance in Maryland.

Simone shares a pre-competition cup of tea with her teacher Sean Culkin, ADCRG
in Dublin, Ireland
Photo: Steph Schor

Little did she know, her "Irish Dancer's Oath" which she made to help her commit to what she believes it takes to succeed, would make it's way to Irish dancers around the world through Feis America LLC's media feed.
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Simone waits with other Irish dancers at the Garden State Feis in New Jersey
Photo: Steph Schor

Irish dancers are nothing if not patient.  Years - even at Simone's young age - of waiting for a competition to begin, waiting in line as a Beginner or Novice dancer with dozens of other girls and boys for your turn to dance, and then waiting again for the next step, the posting of winners and awards, test the best of them.  It is likely this character trait that helped Simone lay out the "Irish Dancer's Oath", knowing that practice, care of one's body and listening to those who know best will help her reach her goals in the long-run.

"Irish Dancer's Oath" by Simone Adele Loysen

Stephanie Schor, Simone's mother, posted the "Irish Dancer's Oath" on her Facebook page, and the comments and kudos started right away.  Joann Priole, mom to Maggie from Cummins (Maggie just recalled in Girls 10-11 at the World Irish Dancing Championships in Belfast) posted, "Very nice job, Simone!  This is the true spirit of Irish dance!".

Feis America LLC contacted Simone and her mother for permission to replicate the oath to share with Irish dancers everywhere.


Simone's response? She said, "I never thought my little oath would become something that Irish dancers from everywhere could use!  I think it's so great that all these other Irish dancers can do the exact thing I did and take the oath."

Thank you Simone and good luck at the North American National Irish Dancing Championships coming in July!  Viewers can access Simone's "Irish Dancer's Oath" by clicking on the caption below this image:

Read The Irish Dancer's Oath by Simone Adele Loysen 

What kind of tools do you use to help you focus on your goals in Irish dancing?  Share in the comment box below!

Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like Feis America Magazine on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!

World Irish Dancing Championship senior men and ladies top ten results - VIDEO

Michael Holland from Richens/Timm Ohio
wins 2012 Senior Men's World Irish Dancing Championship
Photo Caitlin Holland

To the delight of competitive Irish dance enthusiasts around the world, two favorites claimed the top spot on the podium Saturday in the Senior Ladies' and Senior Men's competitions of the World Irish Dancing Championships!  Suzanne Coyle from McLaughlin in Scotland, won her 5th World Champion title and Michael Holland from Richens/Timm in Ohio, who just this year moved up to the Senior Men category, clinched his first World Championship.

Suzanne Coyle
2012 Senior Ladies World Irish Dancing Champion
Photo by Jean Lennon Schuhle

Coyle, a star of Wellpark Productions documentary "Jig" about the 2010 World Irish Dancing Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, beat 153 other entrants in the Senior Ladies competition for the title.

In this event, Open Champion-level Irish dancers from Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, England/Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and the United States took to the stage.  The panel of adjudicators was treated to performances by ladies aged 21 and over, most of whom have been dancing for well over ten years, if not fifteen or more.

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Holland, who recently placed 3rd at the 2012 All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championships, holds the 2009 All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship for Men 18-19.  He is the oldest of four siblings - Patrick, Caitlin and Rachel, who all dance with Richens/Timm Academy.  He started with his young cousins because it was fun, but his teachers, including the late Ann Richens, ADCRG, earmarked him as a World Champion almost right away.

Michael Holland, defending North American Champion
with the late Ann Richens, ADCRG
at the 2011 North American National Irish Dancing Championships
Photo courtesy Richens/Timm

Coyle and Holland entertained the audience of thousands at Belfast's Waterfront Easter Sunday as the Senior team competitions ended the ninth and final day of the World Irish Dancing Championships hosted by An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha. 

Congratulations to all of the competitors in the Senior Ladies' and Senior Men events this year, and best wishes for continued success and enjoyment with Irish dancing in your adult lives!

2012 World Irish Dancing Championships

Top 10 Senior Ladies

1-Suzanne Coyle - McLaughlin - Scotland

2-Claire Greaney - Hession - Ireland

3-Simona Mauriello - Maguire-O'Shea - England

4-Emma Warren - Elaine Kavanagh - Ireland

5-Siobhan Casey - Doherty - England/Wales

6-Frances Dunne - Doherty - England/Wales

7-Nicole Donaghy - McLaughlin - Scotland

8-Rebecca Loughran - Doherty - England/Wales

9-Janine Taggart - Doherty - England/Wales

10-Colbee Mifsud - Kennedy - Ireland

Top 10 Senior Men

1-Michael Holland - Richens/Timm - USA

2-Jan Gaca - Ceim Oir - England

3-Daithi Fisher - Doherty - Ireland

4-Benedict Devlin - Maguire O'Shea - England

5-Sam Davies - Ui She - Ireland

6-Jonathon Srour - Broesler - USA

7-Nicholas Andison - Butler-Fearon-O'Connor - Canada

8-Ryan Fox - Doherty - Ireland

9-Conor Kennedy - Kenny - England/Wales

10-Michael Padgett - Doherty - Ireland

 

Stay tuned for more photos and results from team and solo competitions from the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships!

Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like Feis America Magazine on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!

World Irish Dancing Championships Doherty ladies defending champions - top ten results

Sinead Carson from Doherty
2012 World Irish Dancing Champion Ladies 17-18
Photo Janine Taggart

Sinead Carson and Niamh Taylor from Doherty in Ireland defended their World Irish Dancing Championship titles - and it was not the first time for either of these amazing Irish dancers, who also hold multiple consecutive All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship titles, including 2012.

Sinead Carson, the 2012 World Irish Dancing Champion for Ladies 17-18, has held her position at the top of the podium since 2009. There were 129 female Irish dancers from 8 countries registered for this year's competition which is taking place all week at Belfast's Waterfront. Carson beat top World qualifiers from Australia, Austria, Canada, England, Hungary, Ireland, Scotland and the United States. 

Niamh Taylor with John Lonergan
both are 2012 World and All Ireland Irish Dancing Champions
Photo courtesy John Lonergan

Niamh Taylor, the 2012 World Irish Dancing Champion for Ladies 18-19, who won the Worlds in 2007 and 2008 reclaimed her title in 2011. This is her fourth World Irish Dancing Championship win.

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Irish and American Share World Irish Dancing Championship

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2012 World Irish Dancing Championship

Top 10 Ladies 17-18: 

1 Sinead Carson Doherty 

2 Alana Pearson Ceim Oir 

3 Jessie Leach McGahan-Lees 

4 Sinead Malone Caroline Greene

5 Kate Kaneko Peter Smith USA

6 Ceili Moore Aisling 

7 Olivia Graydon Maguire-O'Shea 

8 Kevinah Dargan Rince Na Tiarna USA

9 Catriona O'Neill Doherty 

10 Eadaoin McGinley Croghan-Greene 

Top 20 Ladies 18-19: 

1 Niamh Taylor Doherty 

2 Caroline Gray McGahan-Lees 

3 Alesandra Doughty McDade-Cara USA

4 Maggie Eileen Doyle Trinity USA

5 Jasmine Withers Kenny 

6 Clodagh Roper Domican 

7 Lindsay McBride Ni Fhearraigh O'Ceallaigh Eastern Canada

8 Bobbie Trotter Carey 

9 Tori Lopez Comerford USA

10 Taylor Kerrane Petri USA

The Doherty School of Irish Dancing was founded in 2001 by Gavin and Seaneen Doherty and has studios and classes in Belfast and Derry in the Ulster Region, Ireland.  Since that time, Doherty has experienced tremendous success in international major Irish dancing competitions for both solos and teams.

For up-to-the-moment commentary, visit Feis America on FaceBook! Top 10 results, photos and interviews will be added here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog frequently all week as well.

Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like us on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!

New England's Melissa McCarthy from Harney Academy clinches World Irish Dancing Championship

Melissa McCarthy
2012 World Irish Dancing Champion Girls 15-16
Photo: McCarthy Family

Melissa McCarthy climbed to the top of the World Irish Dancing Championship podium Tuesday with the quiet confidence of the young lady who won her first North American National Irish Dancing Championships in 2011!  The 15 year-old from Harney Academy in Massachusetts beat 2012 All-Ireland and 2010 and 2011 World Irish Dancing Champion Ann Paige Turilli from New York in the Girls 15-16 competition at Belfast's Waterfront.  McCarthy is also an eight-time New England Regional Irish Dancing Champion, having competed twice in the under 8 event.

Turilli, the 2012 All-Ireland and 2010 and 2011 World Irish Dancing Champion, placed second.  Mackenzie Mahler, from the Blakey School in Western Canada rounded out the Top Three.  So far, this is the only competition at Worlds that has seen three North Americans in the Top Three!

Melissa McCarthy, 2011 North American Irish Dancing Champion
with friends Tayler Nunes and Grace Schiller from Harney Academy.
Photo Feis America LLC

Liam Harney, TCRG, ADCRG, was overjoyed with his Irish dance student's win and to the delight of his friends and fans, performed a little victory dance on stage.  Harney himself is a two-time World Irish Dancing Champion, having won the Junior Men's event in 1984 and the Senior Men's event in 1987.

Harney said, "I always knew I would be happy to have a student win the Worlds but I had no idea that I would be this happy.  I have been hit with a wave of proud and happy emotions that seem to be with me each day when I wake up!  It's true, she did it!  Melissa actually did it! She's a World Champion!"

World Champion teacher and student!
Melissa McCarthy with Liam Harney, TCRG/ADCRG
Photo: McCarthy Family

According to Harney Academy, "It is Liam's dynamic style and positive attitude that has propelled the students of the Academy into world-class distinction.  His personal commitment and spirited personality invigorate and fuel the schools' dance programs.  His skills as a choreographer coupled with his extensive performing arts background transcend the school and immerse students [with] progressive and traditional dance numbers."

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Melissa McCarthy is grateful to her teachers Liam and Sally Harney, with whom she has been dancing since age four.  She says, ""It was just so amazing and I couldn't have done it without the help and support of my teachers and friends!  I was so glad to be up there with my two other North American girls... all the girls up there are amazing!"

Stay tuned for the next installment... more articles and results every day here on Go Feis! The Irish Dance Blog!  Follow daily commentary on Feis America's Facebook page for up to the moment World Irish Dancing Championships results and progress.

Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like Feis America Magazine on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!