The McGrath Irish Dancers
About Us
The McGrath School of Irish Dance was started in 1950 by Annie McGrath, in Waterford, Ireland. Annie taught in her kitchen every evening until her husband finally built her a dance room behind their home.
Annie McGrath's daughter Betty began dancing and competing at age 4. It was clear from a very young age that Betty had great talent and she won many championships throughout Ireland until she became a teacher at age 21 and an adjudicator at age 30. Betty McGrath is still teaching the McGrath Irish Dancers in Waterford, Ireland. She became Betty McGrath Threadgold had six children.
Valerie is the oldest and after a very triumphant competitive career she qualified as a teacher, moved to California in 1990 and opened the California branch of the McGrath Irish Dancers. The class is very successful and boasts several State Champions. In addition, her dancers have placed first in several categories on recent trips to Ireland.
Betty McGrath with daughter Valerie aged 4 years.
Next came Derek. He is a former All-Ireland Champion Dancer and has toured extensively with the hit show Rhythm of the Dance.
Dawn is currently the youngest teacher of the family. She teaches alongside her mom in Waterford. Dawn was one of the most decorated dancers in Ireland during her competitive years. She qualified as a teacher in 1992 and has taught several All-Ireland Champions. She is also an adjudicator.
The fourth generation of the McGrath Irish Dance family are currently on the competitive circuit. Dawn's eldest son won the Boys Championship under 11 at the Internationals in 2003. Her daughter Beth won the All-Ireland and International Championship in the Girls under 12 age group in 2006.
There are many more successes on the horizon for this Irish Dancing family. We have lots of budding champions training at our schools in Ireland and in California. More to come………………just wait a and see.
My first 1st - 1971.
But we were much more proud about.......
our new color camera.