Irish America

Irish Dance

Decades of Irish Dance: Celebrating Patsy McLoughlin

By Kristin McGowan, Contributor
May / June 2019

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Irish dancing is a very important part of the heritage and culture of Ireland and the Irish-American community, and no one knows that better than Patsy McLoughlin. ℘℘℘ Patsy Early McLoughlin founded her school of Irish dance in 1968 in Inwood, New York, and now, 50 years later, she still teaches her students that Irish dance is as much about family and friendship as it is about … [Read more...] about Decades of Irish Dance: Celebrating Patsy McLoughlin

Our Steps, Our Story: An Irish Dance Legacy

By Mary Gallagher, Assistant Editor
September / October 2018

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For 10 days in July, the New York Public Library (N.Y.P.L.) partnered with choreographer and original Riverdance star dancer Jean Butler to lead a workshop celebrating the history and variety of Irish dance. Titled “Our Steps, Our Story: An Irish Dance Legacy,” the program took the form of live discussion and performance, and was filmed in what will be the first of four … [Read more...] about Our Steps, Our Story: An Irish Dance Legacy

American Winners at the World Irish Dance Championships

By Adam Farley, Deputy Editor
June / July 2018

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The World Irish Dancing Championships were held in April in Glasgow, Scotland, and several Americans came away with medals in competition among the best youth dancers in the world. The Academy of Irish Dance, based in Ohio, won several team world championships, including U16 mixed céili and senior ladies, while the school’s Loghlan Howard won boys U14. The Lavin Cassidy … [Read more...] about American Winners at the World Irish Dance Championships

Tara Sullivan:
Shipping Up to Boston

By Kristin McGowan, Contributor
February / March 2018

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Tara Sullivan talks about her life in sports, Irish dance, and the memorable people along her road to becoming the Boston Globe’s newest sports writer.  ℘℘℘ For twenty years Tara Sullivan covered sports for the Record, the largest of New Jersey’s newspapers. She’s covered everything from high school to the pros, bringing her readers into the lives of the athletes and the heart … [Read more...] about Tara Sullivan:
Shipping Up to Boston

World Irish Dance-Off

By Matthew Skwiat, Contributing Editor
June / July 2015

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Hairspray, fake wigs, and oodles of bling were on full display in front of 20,000 spectators for the 45th installment of the Irish World Dance Championships which took place in Montreal at the Palais des Congres in April. It marked the first time the event took place on Canadian soil and proved to be a massive crowd pleasing event that saw more than 5,000 competitors put their … [Read more...] about World Irish Dance-Off