Celebrating a dance world champion

Jay G Forde

Sixteen-year-old Faye Clarke, Mullingar’s World Irish Dancing Champion, was celebrated in style on Saturday with a special ball at the Mullingar Park Hotel. Surrounded by family and friends, Faye was honoured for her achievements, most notably her victory as U16 world champion.

Faye started Irish dancing at the age of three and has, in recent years won six national and international titles, including Leinster twice, Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne champion, and All-Scot champion, Irish national champion, British national champion, and a North American national title.

Last year, Faye travelled to Texas to secure the title of North American Champion. She secured the world championship title this year, at the convention centre in Dublin, at Easter, where there were approximately 250 other competitors in her age group, all while studying for her Junior Cert.

Faye is a TY pupil in St Finian’s College, Mullingar, and a dance student at The Carson Academy in the town. Dance teacher Fiona Gallagher, who runs the Southern Division, said: “Faye is so phenomenal, a great girl, great work ethic, always has striven to be the best that she can in everything that she does. So, it’s a very well-deserved win for her.”

Faye reflected on her beginnings in dance: “Well, the way I got into it was my sister, she used to do Irish dance when she was younger and one time I saw her and I just loved it. I started dancing straight away after that, and I just fell in love with it.”

The event on Saturday was a celebration ball in her home town to mark her achievements, Fiona said. “And I suppose people outside of dancing might not know what a big accolade it is, but she deserves this.”

There were 180 guests on the night from all over Ireland, a mix of friends, family, fellow competitors, teachers, adjudicators, and local elected representatives, Cllr Aoife Davitt, cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, and Minister Peter Burke, TD.

Fiona said: “We’re very thankful that the local dignitaries came as well to honour her great event, because she is a great ambassador for Mullingar, and she’s very grounded.” Dance stars in attendance included Tomi Elemide, a 12-year-old boy from Belfast and a two-time world champion, the subject of a documentary on RTÉ and broadcast on September 1.

“Tomi Elemide is a little star in the making,” said Fiona. “In the documentary, he showed great diversity in his dancing and really promoted boys in Irish dancing, because there is a decline of boys in recent years. He is phenomenal.”

Tomi performed on the main stage at the Fleadh Cheoil in Mullingar, and Faye Clarke will perform in Belfast when the fleadh is there.

The celebratory ball had a table with a globe from the world championships, and Faye’s teacher said they “are proud to have the original globe back in Mullingar”. The table of trophies also featured a perpetual tiara that is gifted to champions.

Faye’s competitor number on the day, 240, was on the table with her dress, created by Anthony, owner of Elite Dance Design.

Faye’s mother Sharon said: “We’re enormously proud of her, it’s 10 years coming, so she’s worked extremely hard for this. She’s a great credit to her family and an amazing credit to her dance school and Mullingar.”

Fiona Gallagher thanked Cullion Hurling Club for their continued support over the years, from when she started The Carson Academy in Mullingar: “They’ve always really supported and encouraged me,” she said.

Faye thanked her family and her dancing family: “I wouldn’t be here without any of them. They’ve always been my biggest supporters, and they have helped me so much over the years. Their enthusiasm towards it, me and just their support has helped me get here.”