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Talented Chloe jumps for joy at Australian Irish Dancing Championships

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Chloe Peirce who won the Australian Irish Dancing Championships at the weekend.

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Chloe Peirce with her mum and dad Tony and Breeda.

A MOTHER-AND-DAUGHTER with strong Killarney links have reeled in plaudits at the Australian Irish Dancing Championships.

Chloe Peirce, 19, was jumping for joy when she won the championships, which were held in Hobart, Tasmania, at the weekend.

Chloe is a pupil of Scoil Ard Rince in Brisbane which is run by her mother Breeda Peirce (Horgan) who is from St Brendan's Terrace, Killarney.

Breeda has been teaching dance in Australia for 25 years now and her school is one of Australia's leading Irish dance schools. "The championships move from state to state around Australia and run over six days with over 1000 dancers competing," said Breeda.

This was Chloe's sixth national title to add to her 11 Queensland State titles. This also qualifies her to compete at the upcoming world championships in Dublin next Easter with 16 other dancers from the school who have also qualified.

Chloe was also one of the dancers to receive a bursary to help offset the costs. "The school hopes to bring a number of dancers to Dublin in 2017," said Breeda.

Chloe had trained in Killarney with her aunt, Breeda's sister Norrie Sheehan, and Aine Murphy from the Sheehan Murphy School of Irish Dancing which greatly helped in her title win this weekend.

"The dancers are very excited to be returning to Ireland for the world championships as it's the first time they are back in Ireland in five years," said Norrie.

Interest in Irish dancing in Australia continues to intensify, added Breeda. "Scoil Ard Rince has grown from a small school run as a hobby to now having almost 100 pupils in the Brisbane area through to the Sunshine Coast," she said.

"With increased emigration from Ireland there are more Irish families looking to continue the culture and the school also offers a fun and fitness adult class called Reelfit."

Twenty-one of Scoil Ard Rince's dancers also placed at the nationals with five other dancers with podium finishes. "All Ceili teams also placed highly at the championships at the weekend which were all in all a very successful championships," said Breeda.

Breeda is also an adjudicator and examiner and judges Irish dancing competitions all over the world.

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Fossa/Two Mile Comhaltas plans two St Patrick’s Céilithe

Members of the Fossa Two Mile Comhaltas recently gathered at the Fossa Community Centre to mark a significant milestone for their branch while giving back to the community. Catherine Joy, […]

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Members of the Fossa Two Mile Comhaltas recently gathered at the Fossa Community Centre to mark a significant milestone for their branch while giving back to the community.

Catherine Joy, Tim Kissane, and Therese Kissane were proud to present a cheque for €3,234.00 to Catherine Foley, who accepted the donation on behalf of Children’s Hospital Crumlin and Ronald McDonald House Charities. The funds were the result of a series of successful events held throughout the past year to celebrate the branch’s 20th anniversary.
The journey to this donation began in September 2025 with a special 20-Year Reunion Celebration that brought members past and present together to reflect on two decades of music and culture. This was followed by a vibrant Céilí in December 2025, which was organised with the help of the branch’s dedicated set dancing teacher, Catherine Joy. The combined proceeds from these celebrations highlight the incredible generosity and spirit of the local Fossa community and the ongoing support for the branch’s work.
The celebrations are far from over as the group looks toward a busy spring season. Fans of traditional music and dance can look forward to the Annual Rambling House, which is set to take place on March 14 at the Castlerosse Park Hotel. Shortly after, the group will return to the Fossa Community Centre for another Céilí on Sunday, March 22. These upcoming events offer another chance for the community to come together in celebration of Irish heritage and the branch’s continued success.

Photo Caption: Catherine Joy, Tim and Therese Kissane presenting €3,234 to Catherine Foley on behalf of Fossa Two Mile Comhaltas. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin.

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10-minute plays will linger in the memory

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The West End House School of Arts is delighted to take part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day Festival with a special evening of entertaining readings on Friday, March 13 at 7.30pm.

It promises to be a vibrant showcase of five original 10-minute plays written by emerging local playwrights, each of whom has recently completed a playwriting course with Fiona Doyle (pictured).


Diverse in style and subject matter, these beautifully crafted pieces promise an evening of laughter, tears, and powerful storytelling and each reading will be performed by West End House actors from Kerry.


Together, they highlight the remarkable talent of these up-and-coming writers and actors, who are the future of theatre in our community.

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