Róisín is on top of the world

WORLD CHAMPION A group from the Coleman School of Irish Dancing celebrates with Róisín (holding trophy) at Ireland West Airport Knock.

Ciara Galvin

THERE were joyous scenes at Ireland West Airport Knock yesterday (Monday) as a welcoming party greeted World Champion Irish dancer Róisín Naughton home.
Róisín clinched the U-19 Girls World title at the World Irish Dancing Championships in Glasgow on Good Friday, beating off stiff competition from around the globe.
The Shrule native was up against approximately 200 girls from a host of nations including the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and The Netherlands.
Dancing with the Coleman School of Dancing, run by her mother Catherine Coleman, since the age of three, the win is a ‘dream come true’ for the 19 year old.
“Since I was young it has been my dream,” explained a delighted Róisín.
This is the second world title win for the Irish dancing school after Conor Walsh won a world title in 2014. Also, Evan O’Brien from Headford took third place in his respective category in the competition at the weekend
The success was made all the sweeter for Róisín, a former Presentation College Headford student, as she had previously competed at the competition on seven occasions.
Mother Catherine said everyone is ‘over the moon’ with the win and commended her daughter’s determination in taking the title after coming up short previously. Róisín previously came in second place three times, third three times and fourth place once.  Asked how she was feeling after the win, the world champion said ‘it just hasn’t kicked in yet’. “When my name was called out I went blank and just started crying and went berserk,” she explained.
And was the talented dancer confident coming into the competition?
“I was happy with my dancing going into the World’s but as long as I did three clean rounds I would have been happy whatever the result would have been, but thankfully the result came in my favour.”

Dedication
Giving an insight into the dedication it takes to win a world title, Róisín outlined her average training week in the run-up to the competition, attending dancing classes five to six times a week, going to the gym three times a week, and also squeezing in extra practice in the morning or evening some days.
“I could  be up to 20 hours a week dancing.”
Asked what the plan is next, Róisín said she would love to do some Irish dancing shows. Currently taking a year out following her Leaving Cert, Róisín is working in Ashford Castle and completing courses in Galway and Dublin.  For now though, it is time to celebrate her win with friends and family.
“This has been all the sweeter especially to have all my friends here. There was a great crowd of supporters from Mayo. It will be a crazy couple of weeks of celebrating. We’ll be going all over touring with the trophy,” she concluded.