At the Walker House in Southampton on June 28, left to right, Celtic Academy Canada Owner, Director, Mary Foley, presented her students Fiona Jagelewski and Mackenzie Hall each with a $150 scholarship towards their trip to Ireland where they will attend, for eight days, the Irish Dance Festival in Carlingford, County Louth.

Hub Staff

Local ‎Irish dancers, 17 year old Mackenzie Hall and 13 year old Fiona Jagelewski, will arrive in Ireland this weekend and spend eight days, from July 31 through August 7, taking part in the world class Irish Dance Festival in Carlingford, County Louth.

The girls applied to attend the annual Festival in January and found out in February they had been accepted. The Festival, created by former Riverdance leads Paula Goulding and Shane McAvinchey, sees dancers from all over the world apply.

“They draw and they scout from all over the world,” said Celtic Academy Canada Owner, Director, Mary Foley, who coaches and trains Hall and Jagelewski “They're very selective, very picky about who they let in,” she said. “This is the first time any of my students have actually been selected so it's exciting.”

Foley said that the training they will receive is of a world level caliber. “What they'll come back with after that week they say is equivalent to at least minimum six months' curriculum. That's how intense it is.” Foley added, “they'll get kids from all over Europe, the States, China, Japan. I think they said 60 countries were represented at this festival last year. It's a big thing.”

Foley explained that with personal trainers on hand, the girls will receive training in all aspects of Irish dance from the origin and history to fitness and stamina. “This is how you build your cardio because it's not just the steps and the technique, it's the physicality,” she said. “Different mentors and instructors that are the best of the best. You're getting world champions.”

The two girls have been fundraising for their journey to Ireland since they found out they had been accepted. Foley said the Saugeen Shores community has been really supportive of the girls with the Optimist Club, the Rotary Club of Southampton and the Probus Club being big supporters.

On Thursday, July 28 at the Walker House in Southampton, Foley presented each of the girls with a $150 scholarship , the final amount needed towards their fundraising goal. She explained that the money raised was from a raffle held at their Riverdance on the Shores performance at the Southampton Town Hall in June. “We went to the different business owners within the community here in Southampton and Port Elgin and asked if they'd like to contribute a gift item or a gift card and sold raffle tickets at the door.” She added that tickets sold for a toonie each and raised a total of $300.

Fiona Jagelewski, who will celebrate her 14th birthday while in Ireland, said she was excited and looking forward to the different Irish dance perspectives. “There's a bunch of different teachers there so we'll be getting different perspectives. One person might be about your arms, while someone else is about your feet,” she said.

Mackenzie Hall was also excited to be going. “It'll be a really good learning experience.” Hall added that she was also looking forward to seeing Ireland itself. “Just seeing all the famous sites that most people are there to tour for and just being able to experience Ireland. I hear so many stories about it and I'm just so excited.”

Foley said the next big event for the girls will be the Eastern Canada Irish Dance Championships in Toronto in November.

Fiona Jagelewski, right, with coach and trainer Mary Foley was preparing to leave Southampton and cross the ocean to Ireland for the Irish Dance Festival.