Hilary Joyce-Owens BG / ADCRG / TCRG
Hilary Joyce-Owens BG / ADCRG / TCRG

Having danced for the famous Hession School in Galway under the tutelage of Celine Hession, Hilary successfully competed in many competitions all over Ireland and England and has held a top 5 position in World Solo dancing and was also a World Champion Ceili Team dancer. Moving to London in 1990, Hilary then danced with Tony Tyrrell for a couple of years, qualifying as a teacher herself in 1992, as an Adjudicator in 2002 and as a Grade Examiner in 2010.

Driven by her passion for and commitment to Irish Dancing and, with a desire to teach, she set up Scoil Rince Céim Óir, in 1992. Always with an emphasis on “One Team, One Heart”, her school quickly grew and today has multiple teaching venues. 

Her teaching successes have given her lots of opportunities. She was honoured to be invited to give a master class /seminar in Solo and Team dancing to enhance the development of Irish dance teachers in Europe, in Prague in 2018, Hilary has also been giving workshops at the O’Shea Chaplin School in Boston, USA since 2010. Under her leadership, Ceim Oir has expanded even further bringing the Ceilidh School in Russia on board in 2019 and the O’Malley School in Bristol on board in 2021, with all of their dancers now competing under Scoil Rince Ceim Oir.

She has been fortunate to have choreographed pieces for various tv shows including Blue Peter, Michael McIntyre Xmas Show, This Morning on ITV and has also choreographed pieces for an Irish Cultural week in Karachi in Pakistan, the Irish Embassy in London, the Irish Peace Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, St Patricks Day Ball as well as pieces and workshops for audience participation in Leicester Square in London and the famous Fleadh in Finsbury Park.

Hilary holds the position of Chairperson on the Southern England Teachers Association and also Vice Chair for the Southern England Regional Council. She is enormously honoured to be a board member of the Marie Duffy Foundation.

Hilary travels worldwide adjudicating and has officiated at all major championships, including the World, All Ireland and the American National Championships.

Marie Duffy Pask - London SDCRG/ BG/ ACDRG/ TCRG
Marie Duffy Pask - London SDCRG/ BG/ ACDRG/ TCRG

Marie's carer began at the age of six with dance teacher Maitiu O'Maoileidigh at the world famous Inis Eagle Academy in Dublin. Having successfully passed the TCRG exam she continued as a director at Inis Ealga, during which time the school enjoyed success at all majors including All Ireland and World Championships, winning many titles. In 1998, she set up the Marie Duffy Irish Dance School in Dublin, which enjoyed continuing success at the major championships

Marie's dance show career began in 1996 when she was invited by Michael Flatley to work on Lord of the Dance which was followed by Feet of Flames, Celtic Tiger, The Return of Michael Flatley and most recently Dangerous Games. She has worked at many prestigious events including The Prince's Trust and the Ryder Cup in the UK, the Oscars in Los Angeles, Prince Alberts Red Cross Ball in Monaco and recently for HRH Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Her television work includes Dancing with the Stars and Superstars of Dance in the USA and Tonights the Night, Britain's Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing in the UK.

As an Examiner for CLRG she has worked all over the world and has served on CLRG continuously since 1969. In 2011, Marie was the first recipient from CLRG of the Honoree Lifetime Achievement Award and had also received a Gradam Award.

In 2011, in conjunction with her husband, she set up the Marie Duffy Foundation to help aspiring dancers and Composers achiever their full potential in the world of Irish dance. In March 2015, Marie retired from Lord of the Dance and returned to her first love, teaching Irish dancing and joined Hilary and the team at Scoil Rince Ceim Oir team

Kerry Cooney - London ADCRG / TCRG
Kerry Cooney - London ADCRG / TCRG

Kerry started her Irish Dancing career at the age of 4 under the tuition of Seamus Kennedy, before moving at 11 to dance under the tuition of Hilary at Scoil Rince Ceim Oir.  It soon became apparent that Irish Dancing was going to become a huge part of her life as her teacher had inspired her and installed a love and passion for Irish Dancing.  “I was very fortunate to have parents and a  teacher who were totally dedicated and supportive of my dancing, whose commitment to my love of this beautiful art form resulted in me having a successful competitive career in both solos and ceili”.  It was always her ambition to teach Irish Dancing and in 2010, she passed her TCRG exam and felt very privileged to join her mentor and friend and mum as a teacher of Scoil Rince Ceim Oir, before sitting her ADCRG exam and successfully passing first time in 2016.  “I am honoured to be a part of the Ceim Oir family, the joy of watching each child grow from when they enter the class to when they finish their dancing career is my favourite part of the job, these kids work so hard and continue to amaze me”.  Day to day, Kerry works a full time Job in Development Finance in the City.

Lucy English - London TCRG
Lucy English - London TCRG

Born in Norwich Lucy began dancing at the age of 4. In 2002 Lucy and her family emigrated to New Zealand where she continued to competitively dance. Having achieved 6 National Titles Lucy took the decision to return to the UK to pursue her competitive dancing career further. 

Joining Scoil Rince Ceim oir in 2010, Lucy competed with Ceim Oir for 6 years, achieving her first World medal within a year. Lucy was a member of senior Ceili teams winning World and All Ireland championships. In 2015 Lucy passed her TCRG exam and proudly joined the Ceim Oir teaching team

Karen Nutley, Assistant Teacher - London
Karen Nutley, Assistant Teacher  - London

Karen has been a teaching assistant with Scoil Rince Ceim Oir for over 20 years and says “it’s a privilege to be part of the Ceim Oir family and I love watching each child’s journey from beginners to achieving what they work so hard for.  I have been lucky enough to travel the world with these dancers over the years and it’s a true testament to the Ceim Oir family ethos when dancers retire but continue to be a part of our lives.  I am grateful for Hilary’s invite in trusting me to assist in the class, the learning never stops for me and the care given to the dancers is always the most important thing.  I come from a long line of dancers, my mum and I danced and since then my daughter and all of my nieces and nephews have danced solos and ceili for Ceim Oir to World standard”.  Whilst not in class, Karen works a full time job in Marks & Spencers

Erin Peachey TCRG
Erin Peachey TCRG

Erin’s dancing career started when she was 4 years old with the Linda Fryday School of Irish Dancing where she had the privilege of dancing at many festivals and theatres all over the UK and Europe. Erin was destined to be a champion and won her 1st World Championship gold medal in the much loved Dance Drama section.

Some years later Erin joined the Lynch School of Irish Dance, there she began to focus on her solo dancing, and as a result also became a solo dance champion and went on to tour with “Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance”.

Due to her dedication Erin went on to achieve her qualification in teaching and joined Griffin Lynch with Maggie & Richard. The highlight of her time teaching at GL was winning the World title in the Senior Ladies Figure Dance competition, along with the All Ireland and Great Britain Championship titles. When Erin isn’t teaching she works part time at Formula 1 as a Project Coordinator.  

Erin is very excited to join the amazing teaching team at Ceim Oir and is looking forward to what the future holds. 

Hilary Joyce-Owens BG / ADCRG / TCRG

Hilary Joyce-Owens BG / ADCRG / TCRG

Having danced for the famous Hession School in Galway under the tutelage of Celine Hession, Hilary successfully competed in many competitions all over Ireland and England and has held a top 5 position in World Solo dancing and was also a World Champion Ceili Team dancer. Moving to London in 1990, Hilary then danced with Tony Tyrrell for a couple of years, qualifying as a teacher herself in 1992, as an Adjudicator in 2002 and as a Grade Examiner in 2010.

Driven by her passion for and commitment to Irish Dancing and, with a desire to teach, she set up Scoil Rince Céim Óir, in 1992. Always with an emphasis on “One Team, One Heart”, her school quickly grew and today has multiple teaching venues. 

Her teaching successes have given her lots of opportunities. She was honoured to be invited to give a master class /seminar in Solo and Team dancing to enhance the development of Irish dance teachers in Europe, in Prague in 2018, Hilary has also been giving workshops at the O’Shea Chaplin School in Boston, USA since 2010. Under her leadership, Ceim Oir has expanded even further bringing the Ceilidh School in Russia on board in 2019 and the O’Malley School in Bristol on board in 2021, with all of their dancers now competing under Scoil Rince Ceim Oir.

She has been fortunate to have choreographed pieces for various tv shows including Blue Peter, Michael McIntyre Xmas Show, This Morning on ITV and has also choreographed pieces for an Irish Cultural week in Karachi in Pakistan, the Irish Embassy in London, the Irish Peace Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, St Patricks Day Ball as well as pieces and workshops for audience participation in Leicester Square in London and the famous Fleadh in Finsbury Park.

Hilary holds the position of Chairperson on the Southern England Teachers Association and also Vice Chair for the Southern England Regional Council. She is enormously honoured to be a board member of the Marie Duffy Foundation.

Hilary travels worldwide adjudicating and has officiated at all major championships, including the World, All Ireland and the American National Championships.

Marie Duffy Pask - London SDCRG/ BG/ ACDRG/ TCRG

Marie Duffy Pask - London SDCRG/ BG/ ACDRG/ TCRG

Marie's carer began at the age of six with dance teacher Maitiu O'Maoileidigh at the world famous Inis Eagle Academy in Dublin. Having successfully passed the TCRG exam she continued as a director at Inis Ealga, during which time the school enjoyed success at all majors including All Ireland and World Championships, winning many titles. In 1998, she set up the Marie Duffy Irish Dance School in Dublin, which enjoyed continuing success at the major championships

Marie's dance show career began in 1996 when she was invited by Michael Flatley to work on Lord of the Dance which was followed by Feet of Flames, Celtic Tiger, The Return of Michael Flatley and most recently Dangerous Games. She has worked at many prestigious events including The Prince's Trust and the Ryder Cup in the UK, the Oscars in Los Angeles, Prince Alberts Red Cross Ball in Monaco and recently for HRH Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Her television work includes Dancing with the Stars and Superstars of Dance in the USA and Tonights the Night, Britain's Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing in the UK.

As an Examiner for CLRG she has worked all over the world and has served on CLRG continuously since 1969. In 2011, Marie was the first recipient from CLRG of the Honoree Lifetime Achievement Award and had also received a Gradam Award.

In 2011, in conjunction with her husband, she set up the Marie Duffy Foundation to help aspiring dancers and Composers achiever their full potential in the world of Irish dance. In March 2015, Marie retired from Lord of the Dance and returned to her first love, teaching Irish dancing and joined Hilary and the team at Scoil Rince Ceim Oir team

Kerry Cooney - London ADCRG / TCRG

Kerry Cooney - London ADCRG / TCRG

Kerry started her Irish Dancing career at the age of 4 under the tuition of Seamus Kennedy, before moving at 11 to dance under the tuition of Hilary at Scoil Rince Ceim Oir.  It soon became apparent that Irish Dancing was going to become a huge part of her life as her teacher had inspired her and installed a love and passion for Irish Dancing.  “I was very fortunate to have parents and a  teacher who were totally dedicated and supportive of my dancing, whose commitment to my love of this beautiful art form resulted in me having a successful competitive career in both solos and ceili”.  It was always her ambition to teach Irish Dancing and in 2010, she passed her TCRG exam and felt very privileged to join her mentor and friend and mum as a teacher of Scoil Rince Ceim Oir, before sitting her ADCRG exam and successfully passing first time in 2016.  “I am honoured to be a part of the Ceim Oir family, the joy of watching each child grow from when they enter the class to when they finish their dancing career is my favourite part of the job, these kids work so hard and continue to amaze me”.  Day to day, Kerry works a full time Job in Development Finance in the City.

Lucy English - London TCRG

Lucy English - London TCRG

Born in Norwich Lucy began dancing at the age of 4. In 2002 Lucy and her family emigrated to New Zealand where she continued to competitively dance. Having achieved 6 National Titles Lucy took the decision to return to the UK to pursue her competitive dancing career further. 

Joining Scoil Rince Ceim oir in 2010, Lucy competed with Ceim Oir for 6 years, achieving her first World medal within a year. Lucy was a member of senior Ceili teams winning World and All Ireland championships. In 2015 Lucy passed her TCRG exam and proudly joined the Ceim Oir teaching team

Karen Nutley, Assistant Teacher  - London

Karen Nutley, Assistant Teacher - London

Karen has been a teaching assistant with Scoil Rince Ceim Oir for over 20 years and says “it’s a privilege to be part of the Ceim Oir family and I love watching each child’s journey from beginners to achieving what they work so hard for.  I have been lucky enough to travel the world with these dancers over the years and it’s a true testament to the Ceim Oir family ethos when dancers retire but continue to be a part of our lives.  I am grateful for Hilary’s invite in trusting me to assist in the class, the learning never stops for me and the care given to the dancers is always the most important thing.  I come from a long line of dancers, my mum and I danced and since then my daughter and all of my nieces and nephews have danced solos and ceili for Ceim Oir to World standard”.  Whilst not in class, Karen works a full time job in Marks & Spencers

Erin Peachey TCRG

Erin Peachey TCRG

Erin’s dancing career started when she was 4 years old with the Linda Fryday School of Irish Dancing where she had the privilege of dancing at many festivals and theatres all over the UK and Europe. Erin was destined to be a champion and won her 1st World Championship gold medal in the much loved Dance Drama section.

Some years later Erin joined the Lynch School of Irish Dance, there she began to focus on her solo dancing, and as a result also became a solo dance champion and went on to tour with “Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance”.

Due to her dedication Erin went on to achieve her qualification in teaching and joined Griffin Lynch with Maggie & Richard. The highlight of her time teaching at GL was winning the World title in the Senior Ladies Figure Dance competition, along with the All Ireland and Great Britain Championship titles. When Erin isn’t teaching she works part time at Formula 1 as a Project Coordinator.  

Erin is very excited to join the amazing teaching team at Ceim Oir and is looking forward to what the future holds.