*Clíodhna O’Brien.
MULLAGH’S CLÍODHNA O’BRIEN claimed first place at the Irish Dancing National Championships this month.
Clíodhna came first out of thirty-eight girls from across the country in the Under 8s competition at the INEC in Killarney, bringing the trophy back over the Shannon Estuary on the ferry.
An extension to the O’Brien’s mantlepiece may have to be considered with Clíodhna beginning to claim an impressive tally, having already won a Munster U6 championship and being a runner up last year.
She received her first pair of dancing shoes for her third birthday and has been dancing ever since.
Clíodhna dances with the Cowhie Ryan McCole school of Irish Dance and travels to Galway twice a week for class as well as classes in Ennis once a week.
She also practices with her mam Aoife Gavin in Mullagh Hall a few times a week. Aoife is a senior researcher in Health Behaviour in school-aged children (HBSC) at the University of Galway.
Currently a first class pupil in Coole NS, Clíodhna also plays ladies football with Kilmury Ibrickane.
A big help in her dancing career to date has been the support from her mother Aoife and grandmother Maura Gavin who is her biggest fan and travels to every feis.
