2012 World Champions!  Kiely-Walsh Junior Girls Ceili 13-16
and 3rd place Minor Mixed Ceili u13
Photo courtesy Kiely-Walsh


The team competitions at the World Irish Dancing Championships held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, were truly world-class!  With lively music worthy of this level of Irish dancing and an international panel of adjudicators, the audience of thousands were treated to the very best ceili teams from Australia, Ireland, The Netherlands, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

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North American teams made a great showing, bringing home the World Champion title for Cashel-Dennehy's Senior Girls' Ceili team and Top Five placements for teams from Claddagh, O'Shea-Chaplin, Peter Smith, and Short.

Congratulations also to the Top 20 North American teams from An Daire, Burke, Cashel-Dennehy, Claddagh, Mattierin, Mulhern, Murphy Irish Arts and Rince na h'Eireann!
 

2012 World Irish Dancing Championship
Team Competition Winners with North American placements
courtesy of Feis Results


Minor Girls Ceili Under 13: Kelly Hendry, England
North American teams from Mattierin, Claddagh and Mulhern placed 10th, 15th and 17th.

Minor Mixed Ceili Under 13: Ui She, Ireland
The only North American team entered - Peter Smith School from New York- placed 5th.
 

Mulhern (USA) Junior Girls' Ceili 13-16 - 11th place!
L>R: Coleen Mulhern Malloy, Maggie Clifford, Caroline Cofoid, Meghan McCarthy, Elizabeth Bish, Mary Kate McCarthy, 
Gianna Levato and Eileen Mulhern O'Kane. 
Photo: Jim McCarthy


Junior Girls Ceili 13-16: Kiely-Walsh Team B, Ireland
North American teams from Claddagh, Mulhern and Cashel-Dennehy placed 7th, 11th and 20th.

Junior Mixed Ceili 13-16:  Ni Chearra-O'Baolain-McMahon, Ireland
North American teams from Cashel-Dennehy and Rince na h'Eireann placed 3rd and 9th.
 

Cashel-Dennehy's World Champion Girls' Senior Ceili Team!
Photo courtesy Cashel-Dennehy


Senior Girls Ceili 16-19:  Cashel-Dennehy, United States of America
North American teams from Claddagh, Marie Moore and Mulhern placed 2nd, 6th and 12th.

Senior Mixed Ceili 16-19:  Mona Ni Rodaigh, Ireland
North American teams from Short and O'Shea-Chaplin placed 3rd and 4th.
 

One of the star-studded Doherty (Ireland) Senior Ladies Ceili Teams (over 19)
L>R: Casey McLeod, Rebecca Loughran, Niamh Taylor, Lauren Early, Caoimhe Bradley, Janine Taggart, Katie Murray and Vick McMullan
Photo courtesy Rebecca Loughran


Senior Ladies Ceili Over 19: Doherty, Team A from England

North American teams from Claddagh, Mattierin, O'Shea-Chaplin and Burke placed 3rd, 11th, 12th and 14th.

 

Minor Girls Figure Under 13:  Sean Eireann McMahon, England

Junior Girls Figure 13-16: Carey, England

Senior Girls Figure Over 16: Christine Ayres, Australia
North American teams Claddagh, Murphy Irish Arts and An Daire placed 2nd, 8th and 9th.

Senior Mixed Figure Over 16: Coleman, England tied with Christine Ayres, Australia

Claddagh Irish Dance's 2nd place team
Photo courtesy Claddagh Irish Dance
 
There were eight creative Senior Dance Drama entries at this year's World Irish Dancing Championships, with World Champion McLaughlin from Scotland the most entertaining!  Maguire-O'Shea and Linda Fryday, both from England rounded out the Top Three.  From North America, Murphy Irish Arts placed 6th and An Daire Academy placed 8th.
 
Check back here for news, results, photos, interviews and more! Help us celebrate Irish dancing by sharing this story with your friends, like us on FaceBook, Tweet the link or start a conversation with a comment in the message box below. THANK YOU!