About Moffatt School of Irish Dancing
Moffatt School of Irish Dancing was established in 1990 by Sheila Moffatt ADCRN. Based in Co. Mayo, from small beginnings it has grown & flourished into one of the largest schools in the country offering far more than just your regular Irish dance classes.
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Because we love to dance!
Dancers are encouraged to grow and develop at their own pace within a fun and caring dance school environment. At Moffatt School of Irish Dancing, every dancer’s happiness is key. A happy child will grow to become self-confident, independent, develop many friendships and much more… and all the while enjoying their class, learning a new skill, forming a lifelong love of Irish culture & heritage. When a dancer is enjoying their activity, they will excel to the full potential of their ability. Praise and encouragement go hand in hand with developing a sense of belonging and achievement. At Moffatt Dance School in Mayo, your dancer will discover what it truly means to be part of a team. A team that prepares you with many skills for their journey ahead and all through the medium of Irish dance.
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Who are we?
Moffatt School of Dance is an Irish dancing school which offers much more than your regular Irish dance class; established in 1990, it has been a passion of its founder Sheila Moffatt ADCRN to pass on the tradition of Irish dancing to all her students in both a competitive and non-competitive platform. Home to many champions, including Regional, National, International & World titles, in both individual and team events. Dancers are encouraged to perform in concerts, festivals, and many events outside of competitive Irish dancing. Performances encourage a sense of self belief in each dancer. Of course, participation in performances competitive and non-competitive is not compulsory, every dancer is given the option.
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Moffatt School of Irish Dancing Teacher Training & Choreography
Sheila is a teacher trainer with Cumann Rince Náisiúnta (CRN), which she successfully received in 2020. A wealth of information on Irish dance across all platforms has allowed Sheila to mentor many young teachers across the world who are developing their own classes. Moffatt School of Irish Dancing choreographs all their own work in-house and senior dancers are encouraged to develop choreography under Sheila’s direction. We offer consistent teaching from one of the most experienced teachers in Ireland.
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Meet Sheila – Her journey into dance
Sheila Moffatt ADCRN, grew up just outside Crossmolina, co. Mayo. From a young age Sheila’s love of Irish dancing was encouraged by both her parents and her grandparents. At the time, children who attended rural primary schools in Ireland were offered weekly classes in Irish dancing during school hours, when a teacher would attend the school. From here, Sheila went on to classes in Ballina. On completing her leaving certificate Sheila decided to defer her college course and open an Irish dancing school in north Mayo. She met many obstacles in her way when her teacher of many years refused to allow her train for her TCRG examinations. Undeterred, she opened class after class and very soon it had grown into a full-time business. Eventually, after having many doors closed to her, Sheila discovered a wonderful teacher & mentor Ms. Mary Deere TCRG (RIP) based in Castlebar, who assisted Sheila on her path introducing her to another great dance master Ms. Pauline Cunniffe ADCRG (RIP) in Athlone, co. Westmeath. Sheila travelled twice weekly from her home in Crossmolina to Athlone and with Mary’s guidance and Pauline’s help successfully secured her full TCRG with An Comhdhail in 1995.
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Sheila Moffatt, ADCRN
Upon entry to competition her students soon excelled and received many awards, titles, and compliments from far and wide. In 2012, Sheila made the huge decision to move the base of her school from closed platform Irish dancing to open platform and joined CRN. From here, she has completed her adjudicators examinations in 2015. In open platform competition again, the school has achieved so much claiming many much-coveted titles with both their solo and team dancers. Sheila has trained and helped many other achieve both their TCRG examinations and their ODCRN examinations in Irish dance. Having had the door closed in her face so many times as a young teacher she vowed she would never do that to anyone who approached her for help to achieve their dance dreams.
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