Callanan MacLoone O'Meara Academy of Irish Dancing teachers Anne Callanan, Michael O'Meara, Nikki MacLoone O'Meara and Ciara Callanan with Aaron Delaney, U15 World Champion.

'A dream come true'

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The winning of a series of awards at the World Irish Dance Championships by the Callanan MacLoone O'Meara Irish Dance Academy has been described as a 'dream come true'.

Young dancers with the local academy shone at the international championships held at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast earlier this month.

Among them was Aaron Delaney, U15 World Champion. Aaron, from Newtown, is son of Roberta and Aidan, and a Nenagh CBS Secondary School student. He is the first male world champion from the Nenagh area, and competed against qualifiers from all over the world. This was a particularly special year to win the world title, being the 50th anniversary of the World Irish Dance Championships.

Craig Maher, U15, sixth place, pictured at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast with Áine Naughton, daughter of Adrian and Cora from Ballina and also a CMO dancer.

In the same category, U15, Craig Maher from Ballinree, Toomevara, took sixth place. Son of Stephen and Cathy, Craig also goes to Nenagh CBS Secondary School.

Among the Callanan MacLoone O'Meara (CMO) academy girls competing were Mikayla Young, who won third place in the U12 age category. Mikayla is from Toomevara and a daughter of Niamh Kinane and Michael Young. She attends St Joseph's National School in Toomevara. Makayla competed against 200 qualifiers from all over the world and finished third from the exceptionally talented bunch.

CMO dancers Ellie Quinlisk (daughter of Richard and Karen) and Mikayla Young at the World Irish Dance Championships in Belfast.

CMO dancers Abbie Mae McGrath, Kildangan, and Roisín McIntyre from Birr qualified for next year's World Championships in Montreal, Canada, by finishing in the top 20 in the U15 girls age group.

Roisín McIntyre and Abbie Mae McGrath qualified for next year’s World Championships in Montreal

Also among those who qualified for Montreal next year is Eibhin Meagher from Nenagh Gaelscoil, son of Paul and Winnie Meagher. Eibhin placed in the top 10 in the U13 competition, which featured 60 competitors.

Eibhin Meagher of Nenagh pictured with his CMO teachers Michael and Nikki O'Meara.

Callanan MacLoone O'Meara also took home two Globes in the team catagory at the World Championships, making them one of the most successful dance schools to compete at the World Championships this year.

U11 CMO dancer Colleen Kennedy from Templederry, daughter of Donie and Caroline, pictured at the World Championships in Belfast.

Callanan MacLoone O'Meara Academy teach out of CMO Studios in Quintin's Way, Nenagh, and also have classes in Toomevara, Birr, Clareen and Kilcormac, Co Offaly. Teachers Michael and Nikki O'Meara are both former dancers with Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance and have been teaching in this area since 2008. They learned to dance from Anne Callanan, who is also a teacher with the academy. Anne's daughter Ciara is currently a cast member of Riverdance and also teaches with the CMO academy.

CMO dancer Tiernan Barron from Birr, son of Linda and Damian.

"It's amazing to have come the full circle and to now teach with the perseon who taught us our first 123s," said Michael. "It's a dream come true to be able to give these kids the opportunity to dance at the highest level and even more amazing to see them succeed and bring back the top prizes in their categories.

"We were extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to travel the world with Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, and hope to give as many kids as possible the same opportunity in the years to come."

More photos in this week's Nenagh Guardian!

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