Irish National Irish Dancing Championships 2012 Early Results

2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion Girls under 7
Caoimhe Devlin from McConomy Bradley
Photo courtesy Shannon McLaughlin

An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha is hosting the 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championships, Craobhacha Rince Naisiunta na h'Eireann, in Dublin this weekend. Thousands of competitive Irish dancers are competing over three days at CityWest.

Solo competitions for boy and girl Irish dancers from age 7 up to and over 20 years old are taking place in ballrooms there alongside team events which include girls' and ladies' ceili, mixed ceili and figure competitions.

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Recap of solo results at the CLRG World Irish Dancing Championships


Giving back with Irish dance
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Early results are in!  Congratulations to 2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Champion for Girls under 7 Caoimhe Devlin from McConomy Bradley, Champion for Girls under 8 Erika Long from Croghan-Greene, Champion for Boys under 7 Andrew Stack from Staic and Champion for Boys under 8 Tiernan Fahy from McDonagh-Byrne.  These four young dancers represent the Ulster, Munster and Connaught Regions of Ireland.

Congratulations also to 2012 Irish National Ceili under 11 Champions from Mona Ni Rodaigh in the Ulster Region.

Top Five in the youngest age groups (full results available at Feis Results) are as follows:

Girls under 7
Champion Caoimhe Devlin from McConomy Bradley in the Ulster Region
2 - Sophie Duffy from Smith McCarron in the Ulster Region
3 - Lauryn Kane from Carson in the Ulster Region
4 - Tegan McConomy from McConomy in the Ulster Region
5 - Shannon McHugh from Duggan in the Connaught Region

Girls under 8
Champion Erika Long from Croghan-Greene in the Munster Region
2 - Eleanor Murray from Mona Ni Rodaigh in the Ulster Region
3 - Ella Ni Oisin from Scoil Rince Ui Bhrian in the Munster Region
4 - Emma Hynes from Croghan-Greene in the Munster Region
5 - Orlaith Murphy from Lorraine Duggan in the Munster Region

Boys under 7
Champion Andrew Stack from Staic in the Munster Region
2 - Gearold Fahy from McDonagh-Byrne in the Connaught Region
3 - Denis Kinsella from Callanan School in the Munster Region
4 - Colum Higgins from Tahany in the Connaught Region
5 - Ronan Hegarty from O'Connor in the Connaught Region

Boys under 8
Champion Tiernan Fahy from McDonagh-Byrne in the Connaught Region
2 - Ronan O'Brien from Scoil Ui Ruairc in the Munster Region
3 (Tie) - Cormac McKeogh from Louise Smith in the Ulster Region
3 (Tie) - Mark Clifford from Sheehan-Murphy in the Munster Region
5 - Cian Mulligan from Ursula Moore in the Ulster Region

Ceilí under 11 (Ceilí Fo-Mionuir)
Champion Team A from Mona Ni Rodaigh in the Ulster Region
2- Team B from Ni Chearra-O'Baolan-McMahon in the Ulster Region
3 - Team A from McDonagh-Byrne in the Connaught Region
4 - Team B from Ard Rialla O'Donoghue in the Ulster Region
5 - Team A from Coleman in the Connaught Region

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!

North American National Irish Dancing Championships in Chicago in 2012

The North American National Irish Dance Championships
will be held in Chicago, Illinois in July.

with Caitlin Buck, Feis America LLC contributor

Now that World Irish Dancing Championships have whirled past, feet are now flying to prepare for the North American National Irish Dancing Championships. Held in the Windy City, July 3rd through July 7th, an expected 5,000 dancers will compete in solo and team events with up to 25,000 spectators will attend . World-class competitors will be sweeping in from across the states, Canada, Mexico and overseas. The competition is open to all Open Championship dancers across the globe as another adrenaline-charged chance to qualify for the 2013 World Irish Dancing Championships in Boston, Massachusetts.

Young ladies from one of the two under 17 events
at North American Nationals 2011.
Photo: Grace Hulseman

“Members of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of Mid-America are so proud to host this championship competition in city as vibrant at Chicago,” said Julie Showalter, ADCRG, Artistic Director of World Academy of Irish Dancing and co-chair of the event’s host committee. “The level of commitment, refinement and athleticism that Irish dancers are required to attain in this art form sets them apart from all other types of dance, and we’re excited to share such a high-level of dancing with the city of Chicago.”

Maura Whaley, Hali Thorne and Nicole Greco from Gilleoghan Irish Dance in Connecticut
after awards at the 2011 North American National Irish Dancing Championships.
Photo: Megan TeeKing

For the majority who will be flying into Chicago, the mid-America Region has, “contracted several large American airlines and secured booking codes to be used when making airline reservations, which will ultimately reduce the total cost of your airline travel to Nationals. The booking codes may only be applied to travel in and out of Chicago on the following airline carriers: American Airlines, Delta, Air France, KLM, United Airlines and Continental.” For more info see the airline promo.

Dancers from the Harney Academy of Irish Dance in Massachusetts
check in at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in 2011.
Photo Feis America LLC

Accommodations are at either the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers (where the dance competitions will be held), the Hyatt Regency Chicago (result presentations) or Embassy Suites (overflow hotel).  Teachers will also be treated to a night on the Spirit of Chicago for their annual convention on July 2nd.

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North American men score big at World Irish Dancing Championships

Recap of solo award winners at World Irish Dancing Championships

Southern region Irish dancing championship photos
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An international panel of adjudicators includes: Joanie Cass, Maureen Cunniffe Daly, Maura Dixon, Michael Fitzpatrick, Jan Curry Henderson, Helena and Kevin McCarron, Marie Moore-Cuniffe, Eddie Murphy,Sharon O'Brien, Patrick O'Hare, Kathleen O'Keefe, Pauline Shaw, Mary Sweeney, and Brendan Tiernan.

Girls in the under 8 competition at awards 2011.
Photo: Grace Hulseman

Feis musicians scheduled to play include: Merv Bell, Darren Checkley, Dean Crouch, Anthony Davis, Billy Furlong, Brian Grant, Kevin Joyce, Pat King, Chris McGrory, Chris McLoughlin, Tony Nother, Paul O'Donnell, Cormac O'Shea and Brian O'Sullivan.

Girls from the under 13 ceili competition.
Photo: Grace Hulseman

For more information visit the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America's website or visit North American National Irish Dancing Championships on Facebook.

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!

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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Read more:

Solo results from World Irish Dancing Championships

Southern Region Irish Dancing Championships SLIDESHOW

All-Ireland Dancing Championships Results Girls 10-11
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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!