Mayo-based World champion dancer to represent province at Mary from Dungloe
Twenty-eight-year-old Katie McClafferty, owner of Nails by Katie in Crossmolina, will represent the province at the renowned festival in Dungloe, Donegal, later this summer.
A Crossmolina-based entrepreneur and world champion Irish dancer has been selected as Connacht Mary for this year’s Mary From Dungloe International Festival.
Twenty-eight-year-old Katie McClafferty, owner of Nails by Katie in Crossmolina, will represent the province at the renowned festival in Dungloe, Donegal, later this summer.
Originally from Glasgow, Katie relocated to Lahardane in December 2023 after meeting her partner, Kyle Hampson, while touring professionally with ‘Rhythm of the Dance’. A musician and native of Lahardane, Kyle drew her to North Mayo.
A graduate of the University of Glasgow with a degree in Human Biology, Katie later trained as a beauty therapist. She worked at MWM Beauty in Swinford before launching her own business, Nails by Katie, in October 2025.
Alongside her business career, Katie is currently working towards her TCRG qualification, which will allow her to become a certified Irish dancing teacher. She hopes to open her own dance school in the future.
Katie’s passion for Irish dancing began at the age of four with the Caroline Greene School of Irish Dancing in Glasgow. She competed at All Scotland, All Ireland, Great Britain, and World Championship levels until the age of 21.
Katie was also part of the Senior Ladies Céilí team that won World Championship titles in both 2016 and 2017. She later spent five years touring professionally with ‘Rhythm of the Dance’, ‘Lord of the Dance’, ‘Irish Celtic’ and ‘Murphy’s Celtic Legacy’, performing throughout Ireland, the UK, Europe, the United States, China, Taiwan and Central Asia.
Katie’s connection to Dungloe runs deep. All four of her grandparents were originally from Donegal, and the festival has long held a special place in her heart.
Her grandfather, Tony-Mai Gallagher from Mullaghderg, drove the buses that brought emigrants and their families from Glasgow back to Donegal each summer.
“I grew up going to the festival every year on my Granda’s bus with my mum, aunties, uncles, and cousins,” Katie said.
“It has always been my favourite holiday of the year. Dungloe is one of my favourite places in the world.”
The Mary From Dungloe International Festival, which celebrates Irish heritage, culture, music, and dance, takes place from July 25 to August 3 and attracts visitors from across Ireland and around the world each year.