Nadine Martin and Jan Gaca top podiums at British National Irish Dancing Championships Saturday

Nadine Martin
2012 British National Irish Dancing Champion
Senior Ladies
Photo: Leanne Nelson

Doherty's Nadine Martin topped the podium for Senior Ladies at the British National Irish Dancing Championships, with renowned competitors Claire Greaney and Simona Mauriello placing second and third, respectively.  Martin placed second after the United States' Olivia Griffin in the Ladies 20 and Over at both the World Irish Dancing Championships and the recent North American National Irish Dancing Championships.  This was Martin's first time competing in the Senior Ladies category.  She is from the Midlands region, England/Wales.


Senior Ladies Top 10
Champion Nadine Martin  Doherty:  Midlands, England
2 Claire Greaney  Hession:  Connaught, Ireland
3 Simona Mauriello  Maguire-O'Shea:  Southern, England
4 Siobhan Casey  Doherty:  Midlands, England/Wales
5 Jodie Osborne  Montgomery Taylor:  Scotland
6 Lauren Hawes  Cullen:  Southern, England
7 Victoria Thorniley  Kelly Hendry:  North East, England
8  Mandy Stevenson  Montgomery Taylor:  Scotland
9 Laura Wilson  McInerney:  Midlands, England/Wales
10 Aileen Brady  Kidd:  Midlands, England/Wales
10 Erin Campbell  McLaughlin:  Scotland

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British National Irish Dancing Championships - Friday results

North America's Claire Gallibois win British Nationals Thursday

Middle America females dominate four North American Irish Dancing Championships
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Jan Gaca - 2012 British National Irish Dancing Champion
pictured here in 2nd place at World Irish Dancing Championship
Photo by Caitlin Holland

Jan Gaca, the 2012 All Ireland Irish Dancing Champion, is also the 2012 Senior Men's British National Irish Dancing Champion.  Gaca dances with Ceim Oir in Southern England and placed second at the World Irish Dancing Championships after the United States' Michael Holland.


Senior Men Top 10
Champion Jan Gaca  Ceim Oir:  Southern, England
2 Sam Davies  Ui She:  Leicester, Ireland
3 Conor Kennedy  Kenny:  Midlands, England/Wales
4  Eamonn Sweeney  Morgan:  North West, England
5  David Chaplin  Sean Eireann McMahon:  Midlands, England/Wales
6  Liam George  Doherty:  Ulster, Ireland
7  David Bassett  Blair McCarthy:  Southern, England
8 Kevin Mills  Aaron Crosbie: Southern, England
9 Tom Crossley  Griffin Lynch:  Southern, England
10  Jonathan Daddo  Cullen:  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 at Reel Photo Company http://www.reelphotocompany.info/107679845 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!

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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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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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!

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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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!

2011 World Irish Dancing Championships featured in "Strictly Irish Dancing" televised tonight on TLC

World Irish Dancing Championships podium
Photo courtesy Martin Bradshaw

"Strictly Irish Dancing" is a documentary on the 2011 World Irish Dancing Championships which took place in Dublin, Ireland, for the first time in 15 years.  From the enormous success of Riverdance to the increasingly challenging, glamorous and athletic passion that is competitive Irish dance, "Strictly Irish Dancing" is both fascinating and inspiring.  To the delight of Irish dancers around the world, "Strictly Irish Dancing" will be televised June 13, 2012 at 10:00 p.m. E.S.T. and June 14, 2012 at 12:00 a.m. E.S.T. on TBS.


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From TBS about "Strictly Irish Dancing": "Delve into the world of Irish dance and experience the discipline and dedication it takes to be part of this growing global sport. Follow four students of Irish dance from Ireland, England and America as they prepare for the 2011 World Championships." 

From one fan: "Strictly Irish Dancing” is an entertaining and informative peek into the world of Irish dancing. It’s much less cinematic than Jig but shows a lot more actual dancing. It also provides a better overview of the history and culture, thanks to interviews with everyone from Orfhlaith Ni Bhriain to Gavin Doherty."


Enjoy the program and report your feedback here on Irish Central's Irish Dance page!




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!

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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Irish National Irish Dancing Championships top teams

World Irish Dancing Champion Kelly clinches Irish National title
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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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Irish Nationals girls solo results Saturday

Top 7 favorite videos of Irish dancing boys and men

20 questions with a South African boy Irish dancer

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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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Hopping Mad adult Irish dancers from United Kingdom
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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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2012 Irish National Irish Dancing Championships early results

Brogan McCay from Jig! defends World Irish Dancing Championship title

Jig's John Whitehurst reclaims World Irish Dancing Championship

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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!

Wisconsin's Cashel Dennehy Irish Dancers Bring Home the Gold Again

2012 World Irish Dancing Champions
Ladies under 19 Ceili Team
courtesy Cashel-Dennehy School of Irish Dance

by Sarah Klopp, Feis America intern

Eight hard-working girls from Wisconsin have brought home their second world Irish dancing title for their school, the Cashel-Dennehy School of Irish Dance. They showed incredible teamwork and dedication when they won the Ladies Under 19 Ceili Team competition at the 2012 World Irish Dance Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

“This team represented Cashel Dennehy at the World Championships so incredibly well and we are thrilled to once again bring home a world title to Wisconsin,” said teacher Laura Gottschlich, TCRG, who was in Belfast for the event. “All of our dancers showed amazing dedication and hard work and we couldn’t be more proud of every one of them.”

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Hopping Mad adult Irish dancers in United Kingdom

Anton & Sully Irish dance music duo

Celtic Steps ramps up for North American National Championships

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The members of this two-time world champion team include Kate Abbott, Mackenzie Bryant, Jessica Gibson, Mary Beth Jablonowski, Kayla Jashinsky, Natalie Rondinelli, Lauren Sayles, and Gabrielle Caron-Schuler. These amazing girls earned a well-deserved congratulations from the Irish dance community.

Cashel-Dennehy also had other impressive placements. Its Under 16 Mixed Ceili Team received 3rd place and the Under 16 Girls Ceili Team received 20th. In the Girls Under 16 competition, Colette Harling placed well at 23rd, and in the Girls Under 13 competition, Abby Reynolds placed an amazing 47th. It takes a great deal of commitment and perspiration to get this far in Irish dance competition, and these Cashel-Dennehy dancers proved their hard work through their high placements.

Since 1982, Cashel Dennehy School of Irish Dance has offered lessons to boys and girls of all abilities, from ages 5 and up. The school has locations in Wauwatosa and Madison, Wisconsin. Teachers include Kathy Dennehy, ADCRG; Laura Gottschlich, DO, TCRG; Kate Habel, TCRG; Maura Heck, TCRG and Alyssa Harling, TCRG. For more information, visit here or find the school 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!

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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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!