Annette Doolan, Ireland
I started dancing with Scoil Rince Ui She when I was four years old. Throughout my twenty years dancing there I competed at Leinster, All Ireland and World Championships in both solo and team competitions. I travelled all over Europe with Scoil Rine Ui She taking part in many Folk Dancing Festivals. I passed my T.C.R.G. exam in 1994 and my A.D.C.R.G. exam in 1997.

In 2006 my family and I moved to Devlin, Co.Westmeath and for the past two years I have been teaching the Doolan School of Irish Dancing there. I have adjudicated at all major feisanna including All Ireland, Great Britain and World Championships. I am looking forward to judging the All Ireland for a second time and I would like to wish all the teachers and dancers the very best of luck.
 
     

Maria Mohan, Ireland

From Carrickmacross Co. Monaghan, I am the eldest of a family of five all of whom danced for Mona ni Rodaigh in Dundalk. I started dancing at the age of 5 and over the years, I competed and excelled at
all major championships – Oireachtas Rince Uladh, Oireachtas Rince na hEireann and Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne.

Through the love of dancing and music which my teacher Mona instilled in me, I met my husband Mark Mohan and we now live in Armagh with our beautiful daughter Blaithin. I have been teaching now for nearly 12 years with Mona and her daughters Ciara and Dearbhla, (who have both recently attained their ADCRG ) as part of the highly successful Scoil Rince Mona Ni Rodaigh. I am very proud to be a member of this winning team, and to contribute with Mona, Ciara and Dearbhla in continuing the legacy achieved by Mona’s own teacher Mrs. Matthews.

I am honoured to be judging at Oireachtas Rince na hEireann 2009 with my teacher Mona and I wish An Coimisiun and all the dancers every success.

 

 

  
     


Móna Ní Rodaigh Uí Lionnáin , Ireland

I started dancing at the age of six with the famous Patricia Matthews who had one of the best schools in the world for many years. Whilst many of you today may never have heard of this wonderful little lady, her record of winning boys and men’s titles at the World championships remains unbeaten. Her boys were the light of her life. I was lucky enough to win three successive Ulster Senior and All Ireland Senior titles in the sixties.

One of the proudest moments for Mrs. M. and my family was that rainy Saturday in February 1967 when I won the Senior title and my brother Tony won the Junior title at the All Ireland in the Mansion House.

I became a teacher in 1970 and have been privileged to teach some of the finest dancers in the world. They have been successful in winning countless provincial, national and international titles in both teams and solos. As a member of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, I am also passionately interested in traditional music and song. Unfortunately I can neither play nor sing, but one of the things I love most is to listen to a good seisiun.

As a dancer in the early 70’s I travelled extensively with Comhaltas through the U.S.A., Canada, Libya, Gt. Britain and Scotland. These great opportunities gave me a deep appreciation of our cultural heritage. It was, I suppose, the “Riverdance” of our time and life on the road was always full of music, song and laughter. Married to Brian Lennon, who has supported me throughout this crazy journey, we have three children. Aidan is a talented fiddle player. Ciara and Dearbhla (who had no choice but to follow in my footsteps !!!!!!) becoming totally addicted to Irish Dance. Both girls were lead dancers in Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” and Dearbhla was also principal dancer in “Riverdance”. Ciara, Dearbhla and Maria Mc Caul Mohan now teach with me and the support and encouragement which I get from “my three girls” is immeasurable.

I congratulate Ciara and Dearbhla on recently attaining their A.D.C.R.G., and Maria I wish you the best of luck in adjudicating this All Ireland with me. Good luck also to all the other adjudicators and especially to my baby cousin Bertie.

I would like to dedicate my participation in this wonderful event to the memory of my late teacher. Pat – you should be very proud of the legacy you have left behind. You are very well represented here in Killarney.
Beannacht Dé oraibh go leir.


  
     


Bertie Roddy, England

I started my dancing career at the age of 4 under the tuition of Mrs Matthews in Dundalk. I had a very successful competitive career, winning 3World Championships, 4 All Ireland Championships and 5 Ulster Championship titles amongst many others. On moving to London in 1985 I taught successfully for 20 years producing a number of world championship dancers in both solo and team dancing.

Due to work commitments I no longer teach but thoroughly enjoy travelling the world to adjudicate. I am honoured to be judging at this year’s All Ireland Championships 2009 and wish all the dancers, teachers and schools every success.

  
     

Michael Kenny, England
Mike started Irish Dancing at the age of 5 in Birmingham with Redmond-Walsh. The school was then taken over by Dunleavy-Armstrong.When Margaret (Dunleavy) moved back to Mayo they closed the school and he finished out his dancing career with Griffen O' Loughlin. He started the Kenny Academy of Irish Dance in Birmingham 18 years ago. Mike has had a lot of success at all major championships winning a lot of titles and he is proud to have won is proud to have won gold in solo/ceili and figure at the world championships.

In 2004 Rose (O'Brien) moved from Galway to Birmingham and began teaching with Michael. They married in 2005 and are now enjoying great success teaching together as husband and wife. Michael has adjudicated at many feiseanna all over England, Ireland and USA and is proud to be invited to judge at the Oireachtas Rince na h-Éireann 2009.
  
     

Breda O'Brien , USA
Breda O'Brien, originally from Spiddal, County Galway, Ireland, started dancing at the tender age of eight years old, with Mary Devaney-Folan, and then later with the late Mairead O'Flaherty. Breda was the co-founder, along with her sister Rose Kenny, of the very successful O'Brien School in Galway , which from 1988 through 2004 produced over twentyWorld Champions. In 2004, Breda immigrated to the USA, and now resides in Chicago, and teaches at the renowed Mullane-Healy-O'Brien Irish Dance Academy.

Along with teaching Irish Dance, Breda shares her passion of her Irish culture and language with her students. She is the proud mother of her only daughter, 21 years old Rowena, a senior at GMIT, Galway. Breda is a very highly respected teacher and adjudicator within 'An Coimisun le Rince Gaelacha' and has adjudicated throughout the world and officiated at the World Championships on many occasions. Breda is very excited to adjudicate her first All Ireland Championships, and wishes the organisers, and all competitiors the very best of luck over the course of the event.
  
     


Iris Gray, USA

I started dancing in Dublin at an early age before my parent’s emigrated to Connecticut where I developed a life long passion for Irish Dancing. Along with my sister Maura we ran the Gray School of
Irish Dance for over 25 years.We have had many New England Champions in solo and teams as well as North American Champions and All Ireland and world medalists. Terry Gillan and Philip Owens joined our school and now as Gray Gillan Owens our dancers continue to succeed internationally.

I am the very proud director of one of New England’s largest and very competitive schools. I have held many positions on the New England Executive over the past twenty years. I am presently serving my second two-year term as the New England Regional Director and serve on the Music and Dance committee of An Coimisiún.

I am truly honored to be selected as an adjudicator for the 2009 Oireachtas Rince na Éireann. I treasure the memories I have of my dancers at the All Ireland most especially those with my daughter
Katie and my niece Kaela. I have judged throughout the United States and Canada at feisanna, regional qualifiers and at the World Irish Dancing Championships in Ireland. Most recently I adjudicated the
2007 All Scotland Irish Dancing Championships.

BestWishes and Good Luck to all the teachers, their dancers and the Oireachtas Rince na Éireann Committee for a successful event

 

 
     

James Early, USA
James Early was born in New York City and comes from Leitrimand Mayo lineage. He began dancing lessons at an early age with Peter Smith and went on to win many solo and championship titles throughout the United States and Canada including first place at the NY Oireachtas which at that time was in fact the North American Championships. He is the brother of Patsy McLoughlin whom he continued his studies with when she opened her school in 1968. He joined the school as a TCRG in 1977 and still actively teaches in the classes. He earned a BA Degree in Education and taught school for several years. Currently he is retired from the NYC Dept. of Correction.

Jimmy is not just known as a teacher but also as an adjudicator and a premier Irish musician who in 1974 became the first North American to win an All-Ireland Championship on the Piano Accordion. During his competitive years playing, he is an 8 time US Champion and the holder of 5 All Ireland medals. Through the years many teachers and students have used Jimmy’s recordings: “Music for the Feis” and “More Music for the Feis” as practice music both in class and at home and culminated in him being invited as the first North American musician to play for theWorld Championships. With this in mind, he brings to Irish Dancing the perspective of not only a dancer and adjudicator but also that of a highly respected and talented musician too.

Jimmy currently resides in Rockland County New York with his wife Geraldine Conway who herself was a former dancer and musician and their 17 year old daughter Mairead who is also a champion Irish dancer and who can be seen manytimes accompanying Jimmy on the piano at feisannathus continuing the tradition. He is a long standing member of the Mid Atlantic Regionof IDTANA and currently is the Assistant Regional Director.

Jimmy wishes all the best to the dancers, parents and teachers attending the All Irelands and hopes everyone enjoys Killarney as much as he does.
  
     

Margaret Cleary,
Margaret Cleary was born in London of Irish parents (Tipperary and Kerry), the eldest of five girls, all champion dancers. She commenced dancing at the age of 8, and during her competitive years won
countless solo championships, including All-England title and All-Ireland awards. She was a member of the Kavanagh senior figure dance team that wereWorld Champions three consecutive years. Margaret attained her teaching accreditation (TCRG) with the Irish Dancing Commission in Dublin in 1976 and subsequently taught children in London whilst studying for her B.A. in Business at a London university.

In 1984, Margaret moved to Los Angeles. In 1988, she resumed Irish dancing by offering classes for adults. Children’s classes were added in 1993. In addition to teaching both adults and children’s classes, Margaret is in constant demand to adjudicate Irish dance competitions throughout North America, has judged National events as well as overseas including theWorld Championships in Ireland. She has undertaken numerous choreography assignments for TV, film and commercials and has worked very closely with the Disney Corporation on various projects.

In 1994, Margaret Cleary was recognized for her contributions to the Irish community in Southern California by Mayor Richard Riordan, as an Irish Honoree of the Year. In 2002 and 2003, Margaret had the honor of teaching at the most prestigious of Irish summer schools in the U.S., Gaelic Roots in Boston College In 2005, Margaret successfully
achieved the status of Irish Dancing Commission Examiner, one of 12 in North America, 35 worldwide. She has served five terms as an executive board member of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA) and currently holds the position ofWestern US Regional Director for the IDTANA.
  
     

Philip Owens, USA

Philip Owens was a champion Irish dancer who started dancing at the age of five in Dublin. He successfully received his TCRG in 1980 and continued on to receive his ADCRG in 1991; he is also a grade examiner of An Coimisiún. Philip is a fluent Irish speaker who also taught at many Irish language schools throughout the Dublin area. Before moving to the USA he taught, together with Terry Gillan and Elaine Kavanagh the renowned Naomh Padraig School in Dublin. Naomh Padraig won many titles including All-Ireland, North American and World Championships.

Philip is a member of An Coimisiún and is a representative on both the Coiste Gaeilge and Rules Committees as well as having been actively involved as Co- Chairperson of the North American Championships in Nashville in 2008. Philip currently teaches in a full time capacity in the Gray Gillan Owens School in Connecticut USA and as a part time teacher in the Mcloughlin School New Jersey. This will be his second time to adjudicate Oireachtas Rince na hEireann and he wishes everyone the very best of luck.