Local dancers head to All World Irish Dance Championship

Local dancers Emma Moran of Arlington Heights and Julia Hannon of Naperville, students at the McNulty School of Irish Dance, are in Belfast Northern Ireland to compete in the elite All World Irish Dance Championships.

Both girls qualified in November at the regional qualifiers (Mid-American Championships) which were held in Schaumburg.

Due to the COVID pandemic, the World Championships have not been held since 2019.

Both are in eighth grade and train three to five days per week in studio and at home daily when not in class.

The young ladies will compete in their qualifying rounds on Monday, April 11, and if they make it through, the final three rounds will be on Tuesday, April 12.

Founded in 1971, in Naperville, by Barbara McNulty and having opened in Arlington Heights in 1978, the McNulty School has grown to become one of the most active schools in the Midwest, with satellite classes across the Chicago area, in Rockford, as well as in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Dubuque, Iowa.

The McNulty School of Irish Dance seeks to preserve the rich traditions of Irish music and dance and to pass them down to future generations.

For information on Irish Dance classes for preschool, youth and adults or performances, contact McNultyDancers@gmail.com or (224) 639-8644.