Plenty of success in Montreal for local dancers

LoCAL irish dancers who travelled to Montreal last week for the irish Dancing World Championships returned home with slightly heavier bags as they returned with globes and medals galore after a hugely successful and exciting trip to Canada. Scoil Rince Móna Ní Rodaigh, McGee School of irish Dance and Scoil Rince Cos Ceol all sent dancers to the annual World Championships with many taking part in their first ever major championships.

Scoil Rince Móna Ní Rodaigh sent thirteen dancers in total to Montreal with twelve of them returning home with medals. Mona and her daughters Dearbhla and Ciara who teach in the school were cheering on from the side of the stage and it was a particularly special moment for Mona when her grandson oisin Lennon picked up a globe for coming third in the world in the U18 men’s category. Caoilfhionn o’Reilly danced brilliantly as she placed 11th in the U11 section, no mean feat when you consider there were over 150 dancers in her category.

Amy Preston (26th), Ceallach Mackin (18th and World Medal Holder), Ciara Brennan (semi-finalist) and Layla Kieran (23rd) also enjoyed success in the girls section. Simon Clarke also medaled as he finished a very creditable 12th in the U16 category while in the U19 section Holy McA- levey (semi-finalist) and Cliona Sheridan (finalist) did themselves and their teachers proud. experiencd dancer orna Colton was a finalist in the U23 section to complete a fantastic championships for the Red Army. Speaking to the Dundalk Leader yesterday Dearbhla Lennon praised everybody who travelled to Montreal for doing themselves and their teachers proud.

“We are all so unbelievably proud of every single dancer who competed in Montreal. To even get there is an achievement and they should be really proud. it’s such an exciting time for a dancer to be able to experience all the excitement of a World Championships and i’m sure they have created memories that will last a lifetime. The amount of work that they put in is massive and getting ready for a world championships is just like a footballer getting ready for an All-ireland. The training has been ramping up over the past few months and hours and hours have gone in to ensure they gave the best account of themselves. it can be a terrifying place up on that stage but each and every one of the thirteen dancers stepped up to the mark and we are all so happy for them,” stated Dearbhla.

Meanwhile over at the McGee School of irish Dancing teachers Nicola and Dervla McGee were also delighted with the six dancers who travelled to the World Championships with all six acquitting themselves brilliantly.

“What a successful week we had at the World Championships 2023 in Montréal. We are so proud of how each and every one of our 6 competitors performed on the biggest stage of all. Special congratulations to our globe winner- U12 -3rd place Brendan Carolan and also to our final recall medalistsU14- Úna Mc Geough and U15- Penny Moffett and to our Day 2 medalist- U16 -Lily Shields. Well done also to Jack Mulvey and Jamie o’Hagan (U12 Boys). We would like to wish Jamie a speedy recovery from his unfortunate injury.

“Congratulations also to all the Cosceol and Farragher-Mc Loughlin dancers. Thanks very much to everyone who supported us this week…it was a memorable week with a great bunch of people. We had four dancers there for the first time which was a great experience and an opportunity of a lifetime to dance on a world stage in Montreal. We are very grateful for all sponsors from local councillors and businesses and of course our wonderful dancers who worked very hard. We are very proud of how they all performed, “ stated Nicola.