Adjudicators

From the Riverside City of Limerick. I started dancing at the age of four with well known Limerick Irish dancing teacher Frances Fleming T.C.R.G. A very successful dancing career followed which included placing at Oireachtas Rince Na Mumhan, Na HEireann and Oireachtas Rince Na Cruinne.

I sat my T.C.R.G exam in 1991 and formed the successful Fleming Ball School of Irish Dancing and in 2004 was successuful in passing the A.D.C.R.G exam. I have adjudicated many major events including the Great Britain Championships and the American National Championships.

I have a great love of Irish dancing, and am delighted to be chosen to adjudicate Oireachtas Rince Na h -Eireann.

Anthony started his dancing career at a young age with the famous Scoil Rince Uí Ruairc in Limerick and remained with Scoil Uí Ruairc until he started his own school in the 1970s. He would like to take this opportunity to thank his teachers Aunty Baby, Aine (both deceased but never forgotten) and Mairin for the wonderful times he had with Scoil Uí Ruairc and also for the knowledge and skills imparted to him while their pupil which has helped him to become the successful Irish dancing teacher that his is today.

Anthony has trained numerous champion dancers who have won (many times over) all major dancing titles including of course the big 2: Oireachtas na hÉireann and Oireachtas na Cruinne. Anthony is now one of the principal teacher with the very successful Scoil Rince Tuamhumhan based in Limerick, Cork, Clare and teaches with Mary and Breeda Mulcahy, Siobhan Dorman, Maureen Farrelly-Monaghan and his nephew Conor Holmes (former World and All Ireland champion)

My dancing career began in Dublin when I was three years old and developed into a lifelong love of Irish dancing. A very successful career followed including Dublin and Leinster titles and top five placings at Oireachtas Rince na hÉireann and Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne. I passed my TCRG'S exam in 1994 and started teaching with the renowned Rinceoirí Naomh Padraig with my former teachers Terry Gillan and Philip Owens. This proved to be a very successful partnership producing Leinster, All Ireland and World champions.

Following the departure of Terry and Philip to a new life in America the school is now known as the Elaine Kavanagh School and continues to enjoy success at all levels of competition. Since passing my ADCRG exam in 2002, I have enjoyed adjudicating at many events in Ireland, Great Britain and North America. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to adjudicate at Oireachtas Rince na hEireann as I have fond memories of competing at this prestigious event. I wish all the teachers and dancers every success this week.

I have taught successfully for over 25 years in the North West of England. During my career, I have had the privilege of adjudicating globally many major championships.

Over the years, I have been both honoured and privileged to have been part of the many innovative developments in dancing, and within the Irish Dancing Commissiun itself, and I genuinely relish this opportunity to adjudicate at The Oireactas Rince Na Eirrean, 2008.

Mandy started her dancing career at the age of four under the tuition of Tony Tyrrell and then later with Griffin Roddy O'Loughlin School. Mandy had a very successful competitive career, winning five World Championship titles to add to her many other major titles including ten Great Britain championships and three All Ireland Championships.

She currently runs the Hennigan O'Loughlin School based in Hertfordshire and Essex , England , alongside her brother, former Senior Men's World Champion, Sean Hennigan and sister Emma.

She passed her ADCRG exam in 2005 and is delighted to be judging her first All Ireland Dancing Championships. She wishes all the dancers and teachers the very best of luck for the week.

My first memory of dancing at an All Ireland was in the early 1970s, at the Mansion House in Dublin.  At that time most of the dancers from Limerick and Clare would take the mail train from Limerick,  at something like 5.30 am.  Of course I never slept a wink the night before, because I was too excited or scared (a combination of both I think).

I got to the round room at the Mansion House and was amazed at the size of  the room,  (very disappointed years later on my return dancing for Inis Ealga to find not as large as I remembered,) with the fantastic circular balcony which doubled nicely as a formula one race track (essential for warm up).   Best thing was, we did not have to wear a number, it was placed on a board at the side of the stage.  I used to wonder if we stood in the wrong place what would happen. Hurrah, I got a recall.  Got on stage, tried to set the music myself (no metronomes) and made a complete mess of it.  My 'three sea captains' was way too fast.  I sailed to the front of the (very sloped) stage, turned around and realised there was no way back up the hill at that speed.  When the judges sat on stage with their score paddles, my number was not featuring I can assure you.  Not to worry, there was always the solos in the 'Supper room'.  Mixed in with the girls we got a second chance and if not there, then our four hand reel was always good for a medal.  My teacher Nora Bennis was great. Never a cross word.

We regarded the English and Scottish kids like creatures from another planet - strange accents we'd never heard before and one school (I think the lad from there won) even wore brown shoes. All very curious to us at our age.  Of course we made friends for life in the line up side stage, when we should have been focusing on the job at hand.  Then, over to the joke shop on Dawson Street for supplies before catching the last train home.

Great days!  Despite lots of changes, the essence of Oireachtas Rince na hEireann has remained the same.  This is a fantastic competition, with a fantastic tradition which I am truly honoured to judge.  I wish all the competitors all the very best of luck!

Russell J. Beaton, ADCRG, born in Boston , Massachusetts , at age ten began studying Irish dancing with Mary Costello Madden, TCRG, who was to remain his only dance teacher. He received his certificate to teach Irish dance (TCRG) in 1976 and his license to adjudicate (ADCRG) in 1979. A very active adjudicator in North America , Mr. Beaton has also adjudicated at Oireachtas Rince na h'Eireann, at Oireachtsa Rince na Cruine, and in May 2006, at the European Championships in Portugal .

He is currently serving on the Executive Board of the Irish Dance Teachers' Association of North America (DTANA) as Recording Secretary. Previously, he was the president of the IDTANA; he is currently chairperson of the IDTANA scholarship committee. He has also served as Regional Director of the Southern Region of the IDTANA. Recently, Mr. Beaton successfully completed an examination process and was appointed an examiner by An Coimisiun. He served as one of the examiners for recent certification exams in Los Angeles and in Toronto .

Mr. Beaton is in his thirty-seventh year with the Frederick County ( Maryland ) Public School System, where he is currently the Curriculum Specialist for Visual and Performing Arts. He also teaches graduate education courses in teacher preparation at Hood College . He lives in Frederick , MD , with his wife, Millie Allen Beaton, TCRG. He is the director of the Beaton School of Irish Dance.

Siobhan began her dancing career at the age of 4 with the Anna McCoy S.D. in Belfast.  Having moved to Sligo, siobhan continued her dancing career with the late J.J. McDermott where she won 2 Connacht Championships and many other major chamionships. Siobhan now runs the highly successful Siobhan McDonnell S.D.

Siobhan would like to wish An Coimisiun every success at this years Oireachtas Rince Naheireann 2008.