The O’Neill School of Irish Dance was founded in 1988 by Sean and Cathy O’Neill both of whom were successful competitive dancers/ before taking up teaching. They have been joined by teachers Lynley Bowler, and Tammie Joseph.
The school teaches dancers from beginners (which can start at 4 years) through to adults.
CATHY O’NEILL A.D.C.R.G. After a successful dancing career Cathy turned to teaching alongside husband Sean O’Neill founding the school in 1988. Cathy is well respected around the world for the quality of dancers produced under her care and has taken many dancers to the World Championships. Cathy is also a qualified adjudicator of Irish Dance and regularly judges at competitions around the world.
SEAN O’NEILL T.C.R.G. Sean was the first New Zealand dancer to place at a World Championships and the first to live, train and compete in Ireland. Alongside Cathy he established the O’Neill school of Irish Dance in 1988 and has grown it to be one of the most successful Irish Dance schools in New Zealand. He has spent a number of years on the executive of the CLRG representing New Zealand’s interests at the table.
LYNLEY BOWLER T.C.R.G. Lynley danced for many years under the tuition of Sean and Cathy O’Neill. She competed in NZ, Australia and Ireland at the World Championships, before qualifying as a teacher in 2005. Lynley has been teaching for the last 15 years and leads the preschool, beginner and adult classes in the city, as well as the North Canterbury class.
TAMMIE JOSEPH T.C.R.G
Tammie spent her Irish Dancing career from beginner to experienced senior with the O’Neill Dance School so understands how champions are produced. Having danced successfully at national level Tammie also competed at the World Championships in Philadelphia in 2009. She qualified as a teacher in 2012 and works with dancers across all our age groups.
All teachers are registered with the Traditional Irish Dancing Association of New Zealand (TIDANZ) being the governing body for Irish Dance in New Zealand and An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) being the governing body for Irish Dance across the world. You can find out more about what it takes to become a qualified Irish Dancing Teacher or T.C.R.G through this very useful intro So you want to be a certified Irish dancing teacher? | IrishCentral.com
T.C.R.G is the abbreviated version of the Gaelic for qualified Irish dance teacher – Teagascóir Choimisiúin le Rinci Gaelacha.
The A.D.C.R.G qualification Cathy holds is the next level of qualification and allows the holder to adjudicate at competitions. Once again our friends at the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (Irish Dancing | IDTANA | USA, Canada & Mexico) have a very useful page that describes the process – Certifications | IDTANA
