Mayo dancers are on top of the world
The members of the Moffatt School of Dancing celebrate after capturing the world title.
The evening of Saturday, June 28 will remain in the memories of fourteen Mayo dancers for a long time to come, after they were crowned world champions with their figure dance ‘The Waves of Blacksod Bay’. The fourteen, from the Moffatt School of Dancing, gave an outstanding performance at the championships held in Dublin’s Church of Scientology and Community Centre, and took the coveted title of world champions for 2025.
The figure dance team comprised of Lisa and Cian Lavelle (Keenagh, Crossmolina), Darragh and Roisin Walsh (Bofeenaun), Daram 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. The Moffatt School of Dancing took their inspiration for this dance from the beautiful coastline of North Mayo.
The victorious dancers were treated to a tremendous reception last Sunday, July 6 with crowds out to cheer their victory cavalcade by coach through North Mayo culminating at the Broadhaven Bay Hotel in Belmullet where there was an evening of celebration. The wonderful dancers, who represented Mayo so well this year at so many events, were welcomed home to a fantastic evening worthy of all their hard work.
Competitors from all over Ireland, USA, Canada, UK and Europe, following qualification from regional and national level competitions, travel annually to compete at the world championships. Moffatt School of Dancing have competed with the cream of the crop for many years, with several very successful results in both team and solo dancing. This year the school had 38 dancers take part and every dancer returned to Mayo with world medals. The younger Under 10, 13, and 16 teams all placed in the top seven, with their senior 8-hand taking second place by the smallest of margins. The school has also brought home four solo globes, with Abbey Garrett, second, U14 girls; John Cosgrove, second, U15 boys; and Darragh and Cormaic Walsh, both third in the boys U19 and U17, respectively. Ten dancers placed in the top 10 with eighteen 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 Connacht championships earlier in the dancing season, while also making sure that non-competitive dance is also 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, including the Ballina Salmon Festival.
