A young Irish dancer from Fermanagh will compete in the Irish Dancing World Championships in Montreal, Canada next year after being crowned British and Irish National Champion, as well as Ulster Champion.
10-year-old Caoimhe Donaghy from Aghalurcher, Lisnaskea has been a dancer with the Flanagan Academy of Irish Dance run by Catherine Flanagan in Rosslea since the age of four.
Over the years, she has won numerous competitions; local, regional and national. This year alone she has achieved Ulster Champion, Irish National Champion and British National Champion. No other Irish dancer in the Fermanagh region has achieved this in one year.
Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Stephanie Donaghy, Caoimhe's mum, explained that her daughter travelled to Bolton to compete in the British National Irish Dancing Championships in the summer where she won the title of British National Champion.
She also won the Irish National Championships in Athlone.
"That's where she has now qualified for the World Championships in Montreal, Canada in April next year," said Stephanie, going on to acknowledge that Caoimhe's best friend Caitlin Flanagan has also qualified for the Worlds: "Both girls are in the very top section of their dancing and train extremely hard together, travelling around the world making new friendships and experiencing new fabulous places."
Both Caoimhe and Caitlin are now in training for the upcoming All Scotland, Great Britain, All Ireland and World Championships over the next number of months.
Noting that she is "very proud" of her daughter, Stephanie said: "Caoimhe never stops dancing. She never sits at rest, she's always practising.
"Dancing has become such a huge part of Caoimhe’s life, which she absolutely loves."
Caoimhe's Irish dancing teacher Catherine Flanagan praised her student on all of her successes.
Catherine commented that she is "incredibly proud" of Caoimhe's "outstanding success for someone so young".
She is super proud of her work ethic, determination and the amazing results that she has achieved in Ireland, England and Scotland. Caoimhe performs three rounds at each competition, one being on her own, her special set dance routine, which shows of her fabulous skills, which is her favourite round.
To train, she attends three classes a week in Rosslea, Lisnaskea and Enniskillen.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here