About our School

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SR Nic Conuladh was founded in 1988 and has enjoyed lots of success to date. Competitively we have won numerous Leinster and All Ireland titles, as well as placing in solo and figures at the World Irish Dancing Championships. We have also competed in competitions abroad - which the dancers love. We have traveled abroad to festivals many times, including France, Italy, Poland & Ukraine, to name a few! 

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Dancing should not be all about competition, there should always be a healthy balance. The most important thing in the school is that all children learn to dance and have fun in a relaxed environment, whether a child is a champion or not is immaterial. The love of dance is the most important thing. Irish Dance is part of our heritage and culture that should be fostered and preserved.

 

We have two Annual class competitions each year which all the children take part in. The aim of this is to encourage all pupils to preform on a stage in a relaxed environment for friends and family, thus gaining confidence in themselves. All children receive prizes at the event with no exceptions. We also hold Grade examinations. We have held amazing dance recitals where the dancers not only performed solo and ceili dance pieces but also preformed the brush dance, newly choreographed pieces to 1Direction and Gangnam style, a sailors hornpipe routine and a dance drama entitled 'the matchmaker'. I believe the dancers should learn a diversity of dance but also keep within the tradition, which is why at a recent convention I have learned some dances dating back to 1860 to teach this year.

 

The dancers take part in a number of performances during the year. This year they did a performance at the first Thai convention. Donnamarie and Cormac auditioned for Prodijig and got the call back audition, which was an amazing achievement, as they also got to dance with the original cast.  Some of the dancers also took part in the new record breaking Riverdance line on the Liffey - congrats to them. We were honored also to perform in the first Mol na hOige concert, which was performed solely by primary school children performing both  music and dance for the event, incorporating children with visual and hearing impairments, the theme being 'inclusion not exclusion'.

 

Classes are held in Clontarf, Kinsealy, Duleek/Bellewstown and Drumconrath.

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Our Teachers

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Órla Nic Conuladh

 

I began dancing at the age of four with the renowned Farrelly School. Taught by my Mother, Mollie Farrelly ADCRG. My Dad Séamus Mac Conuladh RIP was the co-founder of the World Irish Dancing Championships, established in 1970 as well as the Chairman of An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha.

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Competitively I have won Leinster, Great Britain , All-Scotland, American National, All Ireland and World Championship level, placing  in the top 10 or higher in all in solo  dancing. I have won and been a teacher of a winning  Senior Ceilí at the World Irish dancing Championships.

I have travelled extensively performing at festivals worldwide and performed in many shows and given dance work shops extensively in America. The most wonderful thing about dance is no matter where you go in the world, you will always have friends that share your passion and love for this wonderful art form.

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As well as being a Teacher, I am a fully qualified Adjudicator and Examiner, something that takes me all around the world doing something that I love.

The love of dance has been passed down to  me from my parents and from myself to my children who are now fully qualified teachers within our school. My wish is to instill this same love of dance into all my pupils.

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Donnamarie Nic Ruairí

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Donnamarie began dancing at the age of 4 with her Mam, Órla.  She comes from a long line of dancers and musicians. Not only is her Mam an adjudicator and examiner, her Grandad Seamus Mac Conuladh, Donnamarie’s Grandad was chairman of CLRG and was the founder of the world Irish dancing championships in 1970. Her Grandmother is also an adjudicator and an examiner, who has prepared hundreds of dancers for their teachers and adjudicators exams. She took her TCRG exam in December 2019 along with her Brother, Cormac and plans to take her ADCRG in the coming years.

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Her dancing career has brought her much success competing at all major competitions around the world, including the World Championships qualifying at both regional and international level at the Leinster and All Ireland Championships. She has placed in the top five at her regional qualifiers as well as winning many championships at home and abroad.

She has performed in many shows and festivals around Europe, and enjoyed many gigs and performances at home in Ireland, including dancing for the Irish president and dancing for Pope Francis in Croke Park.

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Donnamarie works as a Radiation therapist working with oncology patients during the day and teaches dancing classes each evening. 

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Cormac Mac Ruairí

 

Cormac also began dancing at the age of 4 with his Mam, Órla. Cormac progressed through the grades quickly, dancing in Open Championship from U7. He qualified and competed at every World Championship under he stopped dancing competitively. He won numourous championships in Ireland and abroad, including the Leinster Championships. Including top 10 placements at all Major Championships, including the World championships, All Irelands, British Nationals and All Scotlands. 

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Cormac stopped dancing competitively when he was 15. Since then he has danced in shows all over the world, performing to thousands of people. He also enjoys dancing at corporate gigs and events in Ireland. He is cast in 'Damhsa' a dance show in Dublin city, which he dances in a few nights a week while he is in college.

 

Cormac has an honors degree in Pharmacology and is currently studying Medicine in RCSI. Cormac took his TCRG exam with his sister, Donnamarie in December 2019 and continues to teach within the dance school.