World Irish Dancing Champions are crowned British National Irish Dancing Champions - Friday results

Jack Quinn
2012 All-Ireland, World and British National Irish Dancing Champion
Boys under 14
Photo courtesy Alanna Lynch

It is not a surprise that two of the 2012 World and All Ireland Irish Dancing champions topped the podiums in their competitions at the British National Irish Dancing Championships today.  Jack Quinn, who dances with Ui She in the Leicester region of Ireland, is a three-time World Irish Dancing Champion and has held the All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion title since 2010.  He also won the 2011 Great Britain Irish Dancing Championship.  He is now also the 2012 British National Irish Dancing Champion for Boys under 14.

Ruari McCabe, who won the Boys under 11 event today, is from Morgan in the North West region of England.  Like Quinn, McCabe is also the 2012 World and the defending All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion since 2011, the first year he was eligible to compete in that major competition.

The following are the Top 10 results for the Girls and Boys under 14 and Girls and Boys under 11 from Friday's competitions.


Girls under 14 Top 10
Champion Jessica Everitt  Sean Eireann McMahon:  Midlands, England/Wales
2 Cyra Taylor  McConomy Bradley:  Ulster, Ireland
3 Rohan Bole  Caroline Greene:  Scotland
4 Leah Pinnegar-Biddlecombe  Aaron Crosbie:  Southern, England
5 Ciara Loughran  King:  Northwest, England
6 Aiofe Griffin  Marion Flanagan:  Southern, England
7 Nina Rawlings  Burke:  Northwest, England
8 Jessica Pavier  Inis Cara:  Midlands, England/Wales
9 Olivia Lennon  Kenny:  Midlands, England/Wales
10 Rebekah Bell  Ard Rialla O'Donoghue:  Leicester, Ireland

Boys under 14 Top 10
Champion Jack Quinn  Ui She:  Leicester, Ireland
2 Curtis Long  Doherty:  Ulster, Ireland
3 Conor Rodgers  Doherty: Ulster, Ireland
4 Ryan McCrory  Doherty:  Ulster, England
5 Conor Norton  Aaron Crosbie:  Southern, England
6 Nathan McGhee  Coleman:  Connaught, Ireland
7 Patrick McKenna  Morgan:  Northwest, England
8 Tim Allcock  Brooks: Southern, England
9 Rory Blanche  Trainor:  Southern, England
10 Connor Purdy  Inis Cara:  Midlands, England/Wales

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Jack Quinn defends his title as World Irish Dancing Champion again

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Girls under 11 Top 10
Champion Emma Casey  McConomy:  Ulster, Ireland
2 Nicole McConway  McConomy Bradley:  Ulster, Ireland
3 Clodagh Davis  Carson:  England
4 Eimear Fahy  McDonagh-Byrne:  Connaught, Ireland
5 Shauna Johnston  Coleman:  Connaught, Ireland
6 Rubie Caulfield  Aaron Crosbie: Southern, England
7 Sarah McDowell  Ar Rialla O'Donoghue:  Leicester, Ireland
8 Chloe Devine  Mulvenna:  Ulster, Ireland
9 Olivia Allen  Claddagh:  Southern, England
10 Imogen Burridge  Brooks:  Southern, England

Boys under 11 Top 10
Champion Ruairi McCabe  Morgan: Northwest, England
2 Adam McGhee  Coleman:  Connaught, Ireland
3 Ciaran Coyle  Scanlon:  Midlands, England/Wales
4 Oliver Gething  Boyle O'Dowda:  Southern, England
5 Liam Starkie  Morgan:  Northwest, England
6 Devlin Brant  Ceim Oir:  Southern, England
7 Mikey Healey  Coleman:  Connaught, Ireland
8 Marshall Lally  McAteer:  Northwest, England
9 Sean Dillon  McAteer: Northwest, England
10 Louis Cuddy  Delaney: Southern, England



Congratulations to the champions and to all the dancers who are competing this weekend everywhere!

Follow the live commentary by our friend Leanne Nelson of Reel Photo Company and check back here daily on the Go Feis! Irish Dance Blog for more articles, results and news about the 2012 British National Irish Dancing Championships!

British National Irish Dancing Championships - more Thursday results

Macaulay Selwood
pictured at Worlds 2012
photo: Nadine Martin

More Thursday results from 2012 British National Irish Dancing Championships:

Macaulay Selwood from Doherty in the Midlands region of England/Wales topped the podium for Boys under 16 at the 2012 British National Irish Dancing Championships Thursday in Manchester, United Kingdom.  Mitchell Hodges, from Carey,  following his win of the North American Irish Dancing Championship in Chicago, Illinois earlier this month, placed second to Selwood,  Hodges placed second at both the All Ireland and World Irish Dancing Championships this year, with Selwood placing third at Worlds.  Sean Downes, from McCutcheon in Scotland, is the 2012 All Ireland and World Irish Dancing Champion for Boys under 16; he did not compete at the British National Irish Dancing Championships.

Patrick McGonigle from Carey, Midlands/Wales is the 2012 British National Irish Dancing Champion for Boys under 8 and Ella Owens from Ceim Oir in Southern England won the Girls under 8 competition.


Boys under 16 (Full results, 11 placements)
Champion Macauley Selwood  Doherty:  Midlands, England/Wales
2 Mitchell Hodges  Carey:  Midlands, England/Wales
3 Fergus Fitzpatrick  Ui She:  Leicester, Ireland
4 Paul McCabe  Montgomer Taylor:  Scotland
5 Niall Forrest  McGahan Lees:  Southern, England
6  Liam Forrest  McGahan Lees:  Southern, England
7 Daniel Bolger  McGahan Lees:  Southern, England
8 Liam Riggall  Hennigan O'Loughlin:  Southern, England
9 Callum Sullivan  Cullen:  Southern, England
10 Denzel Manuel  Kilkenny:  Netherlands
11 Liam Healy  Ceim Oir:  Southern, England

Boys under 8 (full results, 4 placements)
Champion Patrick McGonigle - Carey  Midlands, England/Wales
2 Aidan Watson  Turley:  Midlands, England/Wales
3 Benjamin Hughes-Strange  Alexander Strange:  Northwest, England
4 Michael Dillon  McAteer:  Northwest, England

Girls under 8 (Top 10 results)
Champion Ella Owens - Ceim Oir  Southern, England
2 Sophie Duffy  Smith McCarron:  Ulster, Ireland
3 Caoimhe Devlin  McConomy Bradley: Ulster, Ireland
4 Lexi-Leigh Hutchinson  Kidd:  Midlands, England/Wales
5 Emily Colangelo  McCafferty:  Ulster, Ireland
6 Tegan McConomy  McConomy:  Ulster, Ireland
7 Lily Devaney Fisher  Inis Cara:  Midlands, England/Wales
8 Catherine Tolan  Ui She:  Leicester, Ireland
9 Leigh Murphy  Coleman:  Connaught, Ireland
10 Gemma Sheedy  Flynn O'Kane:  Munster, Ireland

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Read more:

Thursday partial results from British National Irish Dancing Championships

Eastern Canada's Claire Gallibois clinches British National Championship

North American Irish Dancing Championships - dance drama review part 4

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Congratulations to the champions and to all the dancers who are competing this weekend everywhere!

Follow the live commentary by our friend Leanne Nelson here and check back here daily on the Go Feis! Irish Dance Blog for more articles, results and news about the 2012 British National Irish Dancing Championships!

North America's Claire Gallibois Clinches British National Irish Dancing Championship - Thursday Results

Claire Gallibois
photo Deirdre Gallibois

Thursday was the first day of the British National Irish Dancing Championships, and a total of five competitions took place at the Royal Northern College of Music. Claire Gallibois, who dances with Butler-Fearon-O'Connor Irish Dance of Eastern Canada, clinched the Girls under 16 British National Irish Dancing Championship Thursday in Manchester, United Kingdom.  This year marks the 25th anniversary of the British National Irish Dancing Championships.

Gallibois, who placed third at the 2012 North American Irish Dancing Championships held earlier this month in Chicago, placed 6th at the All Ireland Irish Dancing Championships and 11th at the World Irish Dancing Championships.  Gallibois elevated her performance from  her 11th and 15th placements, respectively at the 2011 All Ireland and World Irish Dancing Championships.  Due to an association with an adjudicator, Butler-Fearon-O'Connor dancers were not able to compete at the 2011 North American Irish Dancing Championships.

Gallibois is also a two-time Eastern Canada Regional Irish Dancing Champion, having won in both 2010 in Girls under 14 and 2011 in Girls under 15.


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Read more:

Thursday results from 2012 British National Irish Dancing Championships

World Irish Dancing Champion Kelly clinches Irish National Dancing Championship Title

Middle America dominates male North American Irish Dancing Championships
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The Girls under 10 Champion for 2012 is Aeisha Coyle who dances with McConomy Bradley in the Ulster Region of Ireland.  Coyle, the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion also placed second in the 2011 Irish National Irish Dancing Championships.  The 2012 Boys under 10 Champion is George Semple from the Turley School in Midlands Region of England/Wales.

Roisin Naughton
photo courtesy Irish Dance Madness

Roisin Naughton from Coleman Academy in the Connaught Region of Ireland is the Girls under 13 Champion.  Naughton placed second at the 2011 British National Irish Dancing Championships in Girls under 12, as well as at both the 2012 All Ireland and World Irish Dancing Championships in Girls under 13.

Gerard Byrne, the 2012 British National Irish Dancing Champion for Boys under 13, dances with McNelis Cunningham in the Ulster Region of Ireland, is the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion.  Byrne placed second at the 2012 World Irish Dancing Championships after John Whitehurst who reclaimed that title after his loss to Byrne in 2011.  Whitehurst took second place in the 2012 British National Irish Dancing Championships.

Congratulations to all the dancers, and special congratulations to Feis America's friend Claire Gallibois and her family!

For more Thursday results, see the Go Feis! Irish Dance Blog post here.

New England claims four North American Irish Dancing Championship team trophies

Harney Academy Mixed Ceili under 9 team are
2012 North American Irish Dancing Champions.
Pictured with TCRG Sara Ann McLaughlin Flaherty and Liam Harney TCRG, ADCRG
Photo: Wendy Mullane

After winning thirteen of the twenty-seven New England Regional Irish dancing team championships last November, Harney Academy Irish dancers were expected to shine on the team stages at the North American Irish Dancing Championships in Chicago Thursday.  To Harney Academy fans' delight, the school claimed three of the ceili team top prizes: Girls Ceili under 9, Girls Ceili under 13, and Mixed Ceili under 9.

Gilleóghan Irish Dance 16 & Over Mixed Ceili Team
are 2012 North American Irish Dancing Champions.
Pictured with TCRGs, ADCRGs Terry Gillan, Philip Owens and Patsy McLoughlin
Photo Sheila Cardell

Also from New England, Gilleóghan Irish Dance of Connecticut won the 16 & Over Mixed Ceili national championship; Harney Academy's 16 & Over Mixed Ceili team placed second.


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Read more:
New England Regional Championships
2011 North American Irish Dancing Championships Recap Part 3
Celtic Steps Ramp up for North American Nationals
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The Mid-America team dancers fared well also, with Cashel-Dennehy's ceili teams defending their 2011 North American Irish Dancing Championship titles for both the under 16 and 16 & Over Girls Ceili competitions.  Lavin-Cassidy clinched first place for Girls Ceili under 11 and Tim O'Hare's Mixed Ceili under 11 team was at the top of that event's podium.  From Chicago, Mullane-Healy-Godley's Girls Choreography under 11 team won the North American Irish Dancing Championship.

Two Mid-Atlantic teams from Broesler and Peter Smith, respectively, won the under 13 and under 16 Mixed Ceili team championships.

Celtic Steps Choreography Teams won three
North American Irish Dancing Championships.
Photo Maeve Heitman

From the Western United States, Celtic Steps thrilled the crowds as anticipated with its amazing choreography performances.   The teams from Colorado defended all three of their 2011 North American Irish Dancing Championship titles for Choreography under 13, under 16 and 16 & Over.

Watters School of Irish Dance from Florida produced and performed the North American Irish Dancing Champion Dance Drama and the Ladies Adult Ceili team from Toal in Western Canada won its event.

It was an exciting day with thousands of dancers, families, teachers and fans, who all enjoyed the expert live music played by some of the world's finest feis musicians.


Congratulations to all the competitors, especially the champions!


Full results are available here.  Check back here on IrishCentral's Irish dance page for more North American Irish Dancing Championship recaps, photos, interviews and results!

Mid-America region dominates male North American Irish Dancing Championships VIDEO

Three-time North American Irish Dancing Champion
Drew Lovejoy from McGing School of Irish Dance with his mom Andee Goldberg
photo: Andee Goldberg

The Mid-America Region of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America dominated the male Irish dancing solo championships in Chicago last week.  Dancers from Irish dancing schools in the Mid-America Region, which is made up of thirteen states and Western Pennsylvania, claimed six of thirteen male titles.  Of the six, two Mid-Americans defended the North American Championships for their age groups for the third time:  Drew Lovejoy from McGing School of Irish Dance from Ohio and Collin Mountain from The Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance.

Three-time North American Irish Dancing Champion Collin Mountain
from Richens/Timm Academy with his sister Caitlyn Mountain
photo: Micaela Mountain

Also from the Mid-America region, Michael Putman from the Dennehy School of Irish Dance, topped the podium for Men under 20, in what the audiences viewed as an outstanding competition among friendly rivals who have grown up together in international tournaments.  

Three of the youngest age groups' championships were also won by Mid-Americans.  Conal Mulhern O'Kane from the Mulhern School of Irish Dance and Tadgh Spillane from Lavin-Cassidy School of Irish Dance, won the Boys under 12 and Boys under 11 events, and Declan Mangan from Leneghan Academy of Irish Dance won Boys under 9.

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Mid-Atlantic region dominates female North American Irish Dancing Championships

4th of July patriotism in Chicago for North American Irish Dancing Championships

Recap of the 2011 North American Irish Dancing Championships Part 3
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The Mid-Atlantic Region, comprised of the states of Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Eastern Pennsylvania clinched four male titles, in addition to the seven female North American Irish Dancing Championships this year.  Two of the 2012 titles were defended by North American champions Owen Luebbers from the Broesler School of Irish Dance and Sean Crosby from Hagen Irish Dance.  Jonathan Detullio from Petri School of Irish Dance and Daniel Callanan from Lynn Academy of Irish Dance also claimed North American championships.

From the Western United States, Blaine Donovan from Celtic Steps topped the podium for Men 20 & Over in another exciting competition among international rivals and friends.  Brian Perry-Carrera won the Boys under 18 event, hailing from Butler-Fearon-O'Connor in California.

Top 5 Boys under 16
2012 North American Irish Dancing Championships
Photo: Heidi Hamerman Nidds

Mitchell Hodges from Carey Academy in Midlands, England/Wales, defended his 2011 North American Irish Dancing Championship.  Hodges success follows second placements at both the 2012 World and All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championships earlier this year.

View Thursday's Parade of Champions here:

North American Irish Dancing Championships for Boys/Men

Men 20 & Over Blaine Donovan: Celtic Steps Western USA
Men under 20 Michael Putman: Dennehy Mid-America USA
Boys under 18 Brian Perry-Carrera: Butler-Fearon-O'Connor Western USA
Boys under 17 Drew Lovejoy: McGing Mid-America USA
Boys under 16 Mitchell Hodges: Carey Midlands England/Wales
Boys under 15 Jonathan Detullio: Petri Mid-Atlantic USA
Boys under 14 Owen Luebbers: Broesler Mid-Atlantic USA
Boys under 13 Sean Crosby: Hagen Mid-Atlantic USA
Boys under 12 Conal Mulhern O'Kane: Mulhern Mid-America USA
Boys under 11 Tadgh Spillane: Lavin-Cassidy Mid-America USA
Boys under 10 Collin Mountain: Richens/Timm Mid-America USA
Boys under 9 Declan Mangan: Leneghan Mid-America USA
Boys under 8 Daniel Callanan: Lynn Mid-Atlantic USA

Congratulations to all the competitors, especially the champions!

Full results are available here.  Check back here on IrishCentral's Irish dance page for more North American Irish Dancing Championship recaps, photos, interviews and results!

Mid-Atlantic region dominates female North American Irish Dancing Championships in Chicago

Girls under 17B awards podium with Sarah Oldam from Peter Smith School
Defending 2012 North American Irish Dancing Champion
Photo: Ciara McGovern

The 2012 North American Irish Dancing Championships concluded Saturday evening with awards for three of the largest age groups 'solo competitions.  Starting Monday, July 2nd, teachers from the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America gathered for its annual convention which was followed by five long days of solo and team championship events.  More than 3,000 competitors vied for or defended North American titles in 30 individual and 14 team events.

Bridget Albrades, 2012 North American Champion Girls under 10B
Photo: Mulvihill-Lynch School of Irish Dance NY

Solo dancers from seven Mid-Atlantic Region Irish dance schools clinched the girls' championship for their age group, including defending champions Fiona Dargan, Sarah Oldam, Melanie Valdes and Gabriella Wood.  Bridget Albrades and Farran Dougherty, the 2010 North American Champions for Girls under 8 and under 9 respectively, reclaimed their titles, while first-time North American champion Sara Sam Zee Moi also topped the podium for Girls under 9A.

Fiona Dargan, 2012 North American Champion Girls under 15A
with Mary Kay Heneghan from Rince na Tiarna NY
Photo: Stacy Harrington Quinlan

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Read more:

2012 North American men champions and Parade of Champions - VIDEO

For the love of Irish dancing - competition builds character

Book review: Nora and the Irish Dresser
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Solo dancers from England/Wales and Ireland also claimed seven first-time North American girls' titles, with two going to McGahan Lees in the Southern Region of England.

Abigail Monaghan, 2012 North American Champion Girls under  13B
from McGahan Lees in Southern England
Photo: Feis America LLC

Corinne Gallibois was one of two dancers from Butler-Fearon-O'Connor in Eastern Canada who topped this year's podium, reclaiming her 2010 North American title after an association with an adjudicator prevented her from competing in the 2011 major.  Michaela Hinds, also Butler-Fearon-O'Connor Eastern Canada claimed her fourth North American championship, paralleling her four-time consecutive World Irish Dancing Championships.

Corinne Gallibois, 2012 North American Champion Ladies under 19A
and Michaela Hinds, 2012 North American Champion Girls under 17A
from Butler-Fearon-O'Connor Eastern Canada
photo: Deirdre Gallibois

The Western U.S. region of Butler-Fearon-O'Connor Western United States celebrated two North American champions with Ladies 20 & Over B champion Olivia Griffin and Girls under 15B champion Carley Reger.  Another Western U.S. region dancer, Amanda Probert, from Claddagh claimed the 
Girls under 15B title.

Olivia Griffin, 2012 North American Ladies 20 & Over B
and Carley Reger, 2012 North American Girls under 15B
from Butler-Fearon-O'Connor Western U.S.
Photo: Feis America LLC

New Englanders Caroline Mega and Emily Stewart, and four Mid-Americans Moira Kramp, Maria Murphy, Orla Mullane Godley and Sydney Niewiedzial topped the North American podium for the first time.  The Southern United States celebrated its North American champion Miya Stefanick for Girls under 13A.

Girls and Ladies' Solo Championships

Ladies 20 & Over A  Siobhan Casey: Doherty  Midlands  England/Wales
Ladies 20 & Over B  Olivia Griffin: Butler-Fearon-O'Connor Western Region USA
Ladies u20  Gabriella Wood:  Petri Mid-Atlantic Region USA
Ladies u19A  Corinne Gallibois:  Butler-Fearon-O'Connor  Eastern Region Canada
Ladies u19B  Emily Stewart:  Scoil Rince Naomh Attracta  New England Region USA
Ladies u18A  Jessie Leach:  McGahan Lees  Southern Region  England
Ladies u18B  Caroline Mega:  Murray Academy  New England Region  USA
Girls u17A  Michaela Hinds:  Butler-Fearon-O'Connor  Eastern Region Canada
Girls u17B  Sarah Oldam:  Peter Smith Mid-Atlantic Region USA
Girls u16A  Ellen Kennedy:  O'Connor  Connaught Region  Ireland
Girls u16B  Amanda Probert:  Claddagh  Western Region USA
Girls u15A  Fiona Dargan:  Rince na Tiarna  Mid-Atlantic Region USA
Girls u15B  Carley Reger:  Butler-Fearon-O'Connor  Western Region USA
Girls u14A  Moira Kramp:  Trinity  Mid-America Region USA
Girls u14B  Melanie Valdes:  Petri  Mid-Atlantic Region USA
Girls u13A  Miya Stefanick:  Maple  Southern Region USA
Girls u13B  Abigail Monaghan:  McGahan Lees  Southern Region England
Girls u12A  Rachel Cummins:  Linda Martyn  Connaught Region Ireland
Girls u12B  Orla Mullane-Godley:  Mullane Healy Godley  Mid-America  USA
Girls u11A  Farran Dougherty:  Broesler  Mid-Atlantic Region USA
Girils u11B  Sydney Niewiedzial:  Trinity  Mid-America Region USA
Girls u10A  Maria Murphy:  Mulhern  Mid-America Region USA
Girls u10B  Bridget Albrades:  Mulvihill-Lynch  Mid-Atlantic Region USA
Girls u9A    Sara Sam Zee Moi:  O'Rourke  Mid-Atlantic Region USA
Girls u9B    Erin McPolin:  Carey  Midlands  England/Wales
Girls u8      Shannon McHugh:  Duggan  Connaught Region Ireland


Congratulations to all the competitors, especially the champions!

Full results are available here.  Check back here on IrishCentral's Irish dance page for more North American Irish Dancing Championship recaps, photos, interviews and results!

2012 North American Irish Dancing Champion men's results VIDEO

Blaine Donovan from Celtic Steps in Colorado
2012 North American Irish Dancing Champion
Men over 20
Photo: Feis America LLC

Blaine Donovan clinched the 2012 North American Irish Dancing Championship in Chicago Tuesday after three strong rounds with a slate of outstanding competitors in the Men over 20 category.  Donovan, from Celtic Steps in Colorado, delighted the audience with impeccable execution and stunning choreography to secure his top spot on the podium.  With Jason Hays from McTeggart, Jonathon Srour from Broesler, Colin Barkell from Maple and Joe Harrison from O'Shea-Chaplin, Donovan is in outstanding company.

Men over 20 Results:

Blaine Donovan Celtic Steps : Western Region, USA 1
Jason Hays McTeggart : Western Region, USA 2
Jonathon Srour * Broesler : Mid Atlantic Region, USA 3
Colin Barkell Maple : Southern Region, USA 4
Joe Harrison O'Shea-Chaplin : New England Region, USA 5
Joseph Michael Davis Davis : Midlands, England/Wales 6
Mitchell De Simone Broesler : Mid Atlantic Region, USA 7
Casey Costello Short : Eastern Region, Canada 8
Kevin Mills Aaron Crosbie : Southern Region, England 9
Phillip Mottershead Brady Academy : Western Canada 10
Matt Coughlin Harney : New England Region, USA 11
James Reese Tir Conaill : Western Region, USA 12
Scott Graham Graham : Eastern Region, Canada 13 


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Read more:


North American Irish Dancing Championships kick off in Chicago

International friendships in competitive Irish dance world

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Here is the Parade of Champions video from Tuesday's awards:

Michael Putman, from Dennehy in the Mid-America Region, won the 2012 North American Irish Dancing Championship for Men under 20.  In a competition with ten World Irish Dancing Championship medal holders, adjudicators had their work cut out for them in this competition.  Nick Paulson, who just won the North American Feis Commission Senior Belt, took Second Place with Brendan Mullane, Conor O'Brien and Ryan Broesler sharing the box.

Men under 20 Results:

Michael Putman  Dennehy : Mid America Region, USA 1
Nicholas Paulson  Broesler : Mid Atlantic Region, USA 2
Brendan Mullane  Mullane Healy Godley : Mid America USA 3
Conor O'Brien  O'Shea-Chaplin : New England Region, USA 4
Ryan Broesler Broesler : Mid Atlantic Region, USA 5
Ian Gott Irwin : Western Region, Canada 6
Peter Ryan Smith Houlihan : Mid Atlantic USA 7
Lorcan Balfe Butler-Fearon-O'Connor : Eastern Canada 8 Thomas Stewart Bell : Mid America Region, USA 9 Kelcey Steele McGing : Mid America Region, USA 10 Lucas Lawton Short : Eastern Region, Canada 11 Bryan Schneck Knock : Western Region, Canada 12 Ryan Murphy Gilleoghan : New England Region, USA 13 Martin Garfield-Levine McTeggart : Western Region, USA 14 Tim Ryan Broesler : Mid Atlantic Region, USA 15 Daniel Drew Peter Smith : Mid Atlantic Region, USA 16 Matthew Beckerle Clark : Mid America Region, USA 17  Brian Perry-Carrera from the Western United States division of Butler-Fearon-O'Connor, is the 2012 North American Irish Dancing Champion for Boys under 18.  Two of the Top 5 dancers, Ryan Barry and Alasdair Spencer, traveled from the United Kingdom to clinch the 3rd and 4th place spots.  World medal holder Fred Nguyen, from De Danaan in Western Canada, and Joey Roca from Glor na Daire in the Southern Region of the United States, rounded out the talented podium for this competition.

Brian Perry-Carrera
2012 Boys under 18 North American Irish Dancing Champion
Photo: Lauren Perry-Carrera

Boys under 18 Results:

108 Brian Perry-Carrera  Butler-Fearon-O'Connor : West 1
106 Fred Nguyen  De Danaan : Western Region, Canada 2
117 Ryan Barry McGahan Lees : Southern Region, England 3
130 Alasdair Spencer Matthews : Midlands England/Wales 4
105 Joey Roca Glor Na Daire : Southern Region, USA 5
107 Brian McLaughlin McGing : Mid America Region, USA 6
129 Ben Abelseth Blakey : Western Region, Canada 7 120 Rory Beglane Inishfree : Mid Atlantic Region, USA 8 118 Ryan Ostiller Butler-Fearon-O'Connor : West USA 9 115 Sam Davenport Rince Na H'Eireann : South, USA 10 122 Danny Doerksen Houston : Western Region, Canada 11 119 Billy Gracik Mullane Healy Godley : Mid America, USA 12 128 Thomas Lynch Reed : Western Region, USA 13 For full results, photos and updates follow Feis America LLC on Facebook or visit the North American Irish Dancing Championship Facebook page here.

4th of July patriotism in Chicago for North American Irish Dancing Championships PHOTOS

Farrell Granath from Pender-Keady Academy
of Irish Dance in Connecticut
proudly wears her Irish dancing costume
which honors America!

Irish dancers from Canada, Mexico and across the United States of America broke out the red, white and blue today to celebrate America's birthday alongside the 2012 North American Irish Dancing Championships.

With costumes trending toward sparkles and sequins, the annual North American World Qualifying competition is an ideal time to showcase the United States of America's flag features.

Sean Patrick Dwyer and family ready for the Boys under 9 competition.

The Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America hosts the event which takes place every year over the 4th of July holiday, and this year the venue is smack in the middle of the United States in Chicago, Illinois.  A committee of dedicated irish dance teachers from Middle America have been working for more than a year to make sure that families of competitive dancers have every opportunity to enjoy Chicago outside of the Hyatt Regency and Sheraton hotels where the competitions and awards are held each day through Saturday, July 8th.

Regan Rankin dancers from the under 13 competition between rounds.

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Irish dancer goes from "Feet of Flames" to professional photography

North American Irish Dancing Championships kick off in Chicago

For the love of competition - Irish dancing builds character

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Katherine Malloy shows off today's 'uniform' for Mulhern Irish dancers
complete with sparkly blue flats and a flag hairbow.

The sheer numbers of entrants in most of the female age groups require that the year be split into two groups, and birthdate determines which half of the group one is assigned to.  This results in two championships for most of the girls' age groups, where up to 150 or more Irish dancers may compete in a single group.  Dancers perform two rounds in each of the heavy and light shoe and about half are recalled to dance a third round.  After tabulation, awards are made which include a top percentage who is qualified to compete at the 2013 World Irish Dancing Championships which will be held in Boston.

Aidan Farrell and Bridget Murphy from McInerney in Massachusetts.

The 2012 North American Irish Dancing Championships began Tuesday with solo competitions for some of the larger groups including Girls under 10 and Girls under 15.  Competitions are divided by gender and age; while some of the country's youngest Open Champion dancers are permitted to compete in the under 8 category and the oldest group is that of Men over 20 and Ladies over 20, most events are for a specific year of age, i.e. 9 years turning 10 during calendar year 2012.

Patriotic dancers and fans from Donny Golden in New York!

Tuesday's competitions saw solo events in the Girls under 10 and Girls under 15 categories, as well as Ladies under 19 and Ladies under 20 competitions.  Afternoon fans were delighted with the stamina and power of the older male Irish dancers with the Men under 20 and Men over 20 events.  World, national and regional champions, many of whom perform professionally with Riverdance or Lord of the Dance, or serve as a student Irish dance teacher, vied for the 2012 North American Irish Dancing Championship titles while visiting with friends from around the world sidestage

Happy 4th of July from these three belles from North Carolina!

 Wednesday's competitions delighted fans and Irish dance enthusiasts with the youngest boys' events - under 8, under 9 and under 10.  Two large female groups- Girls under 13 and Girls under 17 - also performed today with the Ladies over 20 category displaying finely-executed choreography, grace and power with most having 10-15 years or more of dance instruction.

Celtic Steps in Colorado family decked out for Independence Day!

Lindsey Ferguson from Bell with her family between rounds.

For more information on the competitions, photos and results, visit Feis America LLC on the official 2012 North American Irish Dancing Championships Facebook page, and stay tuned here on IrishCentral's Irish Dance page for updates, photos and results.

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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Read more:

Jade Bridgewater 2011 British National Irish Dancing Champion

World Irish Dancing Championship 2011 Results for Boys-Girls under 15

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!

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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Read more:

Brogan McCay defends World Irish Dancing Championship title

Feising in the Desert with the Bracken School

Irish Dancers Cross Train with Ballet

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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!

World Champion Irish Dancing School Spotlight: McGing Ohio Interview Video

McGing's 2012 All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship Senior Figure Team
with Terry Gillan, TCRG/ADCRG and Mary McGing Duckworth, TCRG
Photo courtesy McGing School of Irish Dance

With multiple local, regional, national and international championships, it would be easy to think McGing Irish Dancers of Cincinnati, Ohio is solely a competitive school, and nothing could be further from the truth. I had the opportunity to learn what makes this Mid-America Region Irish dancing school so special in an interview with founder Mary McGing Duckworth, TCRG during McGing’s own brand of March Madness. We share her inspiring outlook and teaching philosophy here as we kick off Feis America’s Irish Dance School Spotlight here on Irish Central.

More than 35 years ago, Mary McGing started out with a mere 28 Irish dance students. Since then, McGing Irish Dancers has established a rich history in the city of Cincinnati and is widely-recognized around the world as the only American school with the coveted Triple Crown (male, female and team) of World Irish Dancing Champions: Drew Lovejoy (2010), Deirdre Robinett (2009) and the Junior Girls Figure Team (2009). To add to its impressive record, solo competitor Drew Lovejoy and the Senior Girls Figure Team just returned from Dublin with 2012 All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championship titles.

Don’t let the gold on its wall of fame distract you from what McGing’s Irish Dancers value most. The school website is filled with photos and video clips of performances and Ceili events, declaring the dancers’ greatest pride is in their McGing family and local ties to Cincinnati's hospitals, charities and schools.

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Video clip courtesy McGing School of Irish Dance
with special thanks to Madeline Duckworth

FEIS AMERICA: McGing has more community appearances and McGing family events than many other Irish dance schools. Just since January, you’ve had a Father/Daughter dance and the 32nd annual ceili! Tell us about why this is an important part of the McGing experience and how you make it happen.

McGing: “We also have a Mother/Daughter event that we call Dance for the Cure. This is a day in the spring that we go out in teams and raise money for breast cancer research. The moms drive and the girls dance. This will be our 5th year hosting this day that we all just love. Our recital each year is the first week in December and we call it Christmas in Killarney. We dress the dancers up in all kinds of festive Christmas costumes. We also host the Cincinnati Feis that is on June 10th this year at Xavier University. This is the 29th year for our feis! We have wonderful families at our school who are dedicated to their children and offer so much of their time towards all our events each year. We always say we are nothing without our volunteers.”

FEIS AMERICA: Congratulations on the All-Ireland Irish Dancing Championships! I counted 18 McGing dancers registered for solo competitions; was anyone else there just for the Senior Figure competition? McGing: “Yes we had 4 girls go to the All-Irelands just to dance the team. This team asked me at class back in September if they could compete at the All-Irelands. Actually they each taped a letter to their shirt so that when they took off their jackets the sixteen of them said ’All Irelands 2012?’ Apparently I was the last to know as the girls had already asked their parents who were all on board. So we got to work!”

FEIS AMERICA: You have said, “McGing dancers have a reputation of exuberating grace and power at the same time. These qualities propel them to be champions in local, regional, national and world Irish dance competitions.” Your school philosophy focuses on the individual dance student’s experience, whatever their goals may be. How do you help dancers create their own experience at McGing?

McGing: “We are lucky enough to have teachers who want to pass on their love of Irish dance. Awards and titles have never been our focus but when they happen along the way we are always thrilled. Every student at McGing learns exactly the same and then they decide what path they would like to follow. For some it is to wear a pretty dress for others it is to dance at grandma’s birthday party and, for about a third of our school, it’s all about competition. At McGing we celebrate every dancer regardless of what path they choose and that is why we offer so many different experiences to our dancers.”

FEIS AMERICA: What was the premise behind “Making History”, the 2012 winning performance by McGing’s Senior Figure team which reclaimed McGing’s 2008 All-Ireland title. Also, are these Senior Figure dancers the same Junior Figure dancers who won the World Irish Dancing Championship Junior Figure event in 2009?

McGing: “Actually the dance was inspired by a quote on a t-shirt that says, “It has been said that women who behave rarely make history”. How true is that! And in Irish history, it’s really true. The team that won in Ireland was packed with seasoned competitors.”

FEIS AMERICA: McGing Irish Dancers won’t be able to compete at Worlds in Belfast this year due an association conflict with an adjudicator. I imagine you are looking ahead to the North American National Irish Dancing Championships in July now. Will having the venue in Chicago this year present extra challenges from the highly-competitive Mid-America region?

McGing: “Now that St Patrick’s Day season is over, we are looking towards competition and the North American Championships is our next major. Our school is looking forward to seeing all our friends in July. As one of the Co-chairs of Nationals with Julie Showalter, Tim O’Hare and John Timm, I can tell you we are thrilled to be hosting everyone in Chicago. We are hoping for fabulous competitions and a week of making memories with all our Irish dance family.”

FEIS AMERICA: What is the greatest change you have seen in Irish dance since you founded McGing 35 years ago? What does the future hold for the McGing School of Irish Dance?

McGing: “What I love about Irish dance is that it is progressive. Yes we have the beautiful tradition of Ceili but that is just one part of what we do. Step dancing is this creative art form that allows teachers to be original which makes the dancing not only exciting but always evolving. Figure choreography and drama do the same only with teams of dancers. Few people have a job that is as exciting as mine. Teaching children to Irish dance is just the best job in the world!”

www.mcgingdancers.com

 (513) 891-6066    Email: info@mcgingdancers.com

 Mary McGing Duckworth, TCRG; Terry Gillan, ADCRG; Christine Carey-Steele, TCRG; 

Sarah McGing, TCRG, Megan Collins, TCRG; Katie Behrle, Monica Bowen,

 Shannon Henderson, Patti McGeever, Mary Kate Reilly, Terri Sexmith,

 assisted by Annaliese Hnat, Annie Reilly, Deirdre Robinett and Shelby Vaughn. 

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!