Mayo dancers win at World Championships as celebratory homecoming set to take place

Last Saturday evening June 28 is an evening that will remain in the memories of 14 Mayo dancers for many days to come, as they were crowned world champions in the Scientology Centre, Dublin with their figure dance “The Waves of Blacksod Bay”. 

The 14 dancers from the Moffatt School of Dancing gave an outstanding performance to receive the huge honour of taking the coveted title of world champions. Dancers on the team were 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. The Moffatt School of Dancing is always proud of its Mayo heritage as they took the inspiration for this dance from the beautiful coastline of North Mayo.

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Competitors from all over Ireland, USA, Canada, UK and Europe travel annually to compete at the world championships.The Moffatt School of Dancing has been competing at the top level for years with many very successful results in both team and solo dancing. This year, the school had 38 dancers take part with every dancer returning to Mayo with world medals.

The 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 and with Abbey Garrett, second in U-14 girls, John Cosgrove second in U-15 boys and Darragh and Cormaic Walsh both third in the boys U-19 and U-17 respectively. Ten dancers placed in the top ten with eighteen all receiving placings and rankings in the solo competitions across the four day event.

The 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.

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The school is having a homecoming and a celebration party in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel, Belmullet on Sunday, July 6, at 4pm. The dancers will travel through North Mayo by coach sponsored by William Barrett coach hire enroute to their celebration evening. The celebrations are open to all, and details are as follows: 

The talented dancers will be at Ardagh community centre at 1.45, Ballina (the Font) at 2.00, Lahardane at 2.20, Crossmolina at 2.30 before arriving at the Broadhaven Bay in Belmullet at 4.00, where the celebration party will then be held.

People can look forward to welcoming these wonderful dancers, who represented Mayo again so well this year in what will no doubt turn out to be a fantastic evening.