Mayo dancers are on top of the world!
MAYO'S Moffatt School of Dancing is celebrating a world title win.
A troupe of 14 dancers were crowned world champions at the Scientology Centre in Dublin with their figure dance 'The Waves of Blacksod Bay' after giving an outstanding performance.
A homecoming celebration will take place in north Mayo next Sunday evening and communities en route in Ardagh, Ballina, Lahardane, Crossmolina and Belmullet are invited to come out and show their support as the school celebrates the success of all its dancers - 38 in total - at the world championships.
Dancers on the world title winning team are Lisa and Cian Lavelle (Keenagh, Crossmolina), Darragh and Roisin Walsh (Bofeenaun), Dara Floyd (Crossmolina), John Cosgrove (Crossmolina), Abbey Garrett (Crossmolina), Aine Donegan (Stokane, Enniscrone), Emma Jackson (Ardagh), Katie Hughes (Knockmore), Kayla Connaughan (Achill), Celina Hegarty (Crossmolina), Niamh Walsh (Ballina) and Sarah Keane (Binghamstown).
The figure competition is a competition choreographed in house to selected music based on a story or a theme which is told through dance using Celtic movements. Moffatt School of Dancing, always proud of their Mayo heritage, took the inspiration for this dance from the beautiful coastline of north Mayo.
Competitors from all over Ireland, USA, Canada, the UK and Europe - following qualification from regional and national level competitions - travel annually to compete at the world championships. Moffatt School of Dancing has competed with the cream of the crop for many years with many very successful results in both team and solo dancing.
This year the school had 38 dancers taking part with every dancer returning to Mayo with world medals. The younger Under 10, 13 and 16 teams all placed in the top seven, with their senior eight-hand taking second place with the minimum of margins.
The school has also brought home four solo globes with Abbey Garrett, 2nd Under 14 girls, John Cosgrove, 2nd Under 15 boys, and Darragh and Cormaic Walsh both 3rd in the boys Under 19 and 17 respectively. Ten dancers placed in the top 10 with 18 all receiving placings and rankings in the solo competitions across the four-day event.
Moffatt School of Dancing has had a fantastic competitive year with great All-Ireland and Connaught championships earlier in the dancing season while also making sure that non-competitive dance is well looked after having taken part in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the USA last March. They can also be seen across the next few weeks at the various summer festivals across the county.
The school is having a homecoming and a celebration party in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel, Belmullet, on Sunday next, July 6, at 4 p.m. The dancers will travel through north Mayo by coach, sponsored by William Barrett coach hire, en route to their celebration evening.
The celebrations are open to all, and details are as follows:
Ardagh Community Centre 1.45 p.m.
Ballina (the Font) 2 p.m.
Lahardane 2.20 p.m.
Crossmolina 2.30 p.m.
Broadhaven Bay, Belmullet, 4 p.m., where the celebration party will then be held.
The school looks forward to welcoming these wonderful dancers, who represented Mayo again so well this year at so many events, home to a fantastic evening.