Fiona Dargan defends her North American Irish Dancing Championship!
Photo: Feis America LLC 2011
Fiona Dargan from Rince na Tiarna in New York defended her title as the 2010 North American National Irish Dancing Champion for Girls under 14a on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. Fiona holds the 2008 World, All-Ireland and North American National Irish Dancing Championship titles for her age group.

Earlier the same week, Kevinah Dargan claimed her fourth North American title for Girls under 17a. In 2005, Kevinah was the youngest North American dancer ever to win the World Irish Dancing Championships.

The sisters are the children of Kevin, who was born in Derry and raised in Dublin, and Tracy, whose parents are also from Dublin. Both girls also excel academically and at extracurricular activities such as violin and intramural sports in Williamsville, New York. They are involved in the community and active in Saints Peter and Paul Church.

The Dargan siblings have studied Irish dancing with Mary Kay Heneghan ADCRG, founder ofRince na Tiarna School of Irish Dance in New York, since age four. Heneghan's parents are also Irish: Thomas from Kilmaine, County Mayo and Mary Breen Heneghan from Kilmihil, County Clare. Prior to founding her own school in 1986, Mary Kay taught for the internationally-renowned Trinity Irish Dance Academy in Chicago, Illinois.

Feis America was expressly prohibited from providing real-time results and live commentary at the 2011 North American Irish Dancing Championships by the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America. For complete results, visit www.nanationals.net.

Feis America magazine is dedicated exclusively to North American Irish dancing and celebrates its dancers, teachers, performers and families bi-monthly with an acclaimed editorial platform and rich photojournalism. Subscribe today and get full NAIDC coverage in the September/October 2011 issue.