Poignant triumph for Doolan-Cullen School of Irish Dancing in Longford

Aoife’s qualification success was particularly poignant, as one of her teachers is her sister, Clodagh, a brave young woman, who celebrated her 21st birthday earlier this year and is in recovery from Stage 4 Lymphoma.
Defiant Clodagh, in the words of her mum Pauline, ‘has ditched the wig and is back where she loves, Irish dancing’.

Clodagh, who spoke about her personal battle in an interview with the Longford Leader, was ‘over the moon’ when Aoife qualified for the World Championships.

The An Coimisiun Irish Dancing Leinster Championships took place on the weekend of November 17/18 at the Pillo Hotel, Ashbourne.

Doolan-Cullen School of Irish Dancing, based in Longford town, had three dancers bidding for a World Championship qualification place and all three succeeded.

Their youngest dancer, Joseph Farrell, retained his title of Leinster Champion with Ciara Kane & Aoife Gray also securing qualification amid very tough competition.

The weekend also featured the presentation of the Lisa Cullen Memorial Cup. The late Lisa was Aoife and Clodagh Gray’s first cousin and teacher but she tragically lost her life in a car accident just over four years ago.

Pauline explained, “Lisa’s legacy lives on through Clodagh and Aoife. I had the honour of presenting the cup that commemorates Lisa. It was a very emotional but inspiring weekend for us all.”

Pauline added, “Clodagh was so proud of her little sister, Aoife, as was Lisa's mother Roseanne and teacher Annette.”