Deirdre O' Mara School of Irish Dance

07/08/2024

I have gotten all the way to the payment page on CLRG but haven't been able to hit the "continue to payment" button. I will, but it just gives me pause (understatement of the year)
When I was thinking about it today & about the meeting last night I was as blue as Mrs Kelly's (Marie Walsh's) blue shed 😭
How did we take something as beautiful as our dance form and reduce it to this? In both Glasgow & Texas I was blown away by the absolute excellence & artistry of our collective dancers. They are a credit to you all. It is such an incredible art form which has been enhanced by the purest form & intention of competition the likes of which we have all been following in Paris this past week.

But then there is the dark side, the win at all cost, the ego's, the greed, the putting aside the well being of children for the sake of a title or a moment on stage or to be honest I am not sure what. My most important title is that of dance teacher & the best moments are with the children I teach, not at their expense.

I am still waiting (good thing I am not holding my breath) for anyone to take accountability, anyone?
I will take it for my part. I put my students in what I knew was unfair competition. I thought it was a "you scratch my back" situation... I didn't know it was like ordering at the drive through. I'll have one of those 1st places & a WQ spot with a side of fries 😳
Without the new disciplinary procedures which should be of paramount importance I will not renew next year. Without that we have nothing to offer the students. We have failed them thus far & again, no apologies to them for any of it.

I am more invested in CLRG than I have ever been but less trusting. More knowledgeable but I understand less. I know there are a lot of good people working hard, very hard, to their own detriment to try to help. I also know there are people in it for their own good even though it is to the detriment of the organization. I want to help and last night we had our 10th meeting of Teachers Talk. Such a good group of people and the main reason I have any hope at all. You all & my students. I am staying for now for those 2 groups. I will help in any way I can and keep the group going as without it I would truly not have any faith at all.
Deadline for dues is 12am tomorrow Aug 7th at which time the 400 Euro fee will double!
I will be in Dublin tomorrow and will be waiting to hear if we get the 75% of the membership to sign up that we need to continue.

30/07/2024

Summer class tonight
I will feed the kids who are staying from camp to class 😎

14/07/2024

We will be dancing at this today at 1.30pm - bring your dancing shoes & join us :)

12/07/2024

Last day of week 1
Still some spots available in the next 3 weeks 😎
Link to register below - ages 4 & up

Deirdre O' Mara School of Irish Dance - 265 Central Park Ave Yonkers NY 10704 4 weeks of camp starting Mon July 8th 9am to 3pm - $275 per week - Lunch & snacks included Early drop off and late pick up available 8.30am to 5pm $5 per hour Dance class, arts & crafts, games, baking, sprinklers & more

06/07/2024

Taking the weekend to recover from Texas & then 4 weeks of Summer Camp starts Mon :)
Link to register below
$275 per week
$60 per day
9 to 3pm with early drop off & late pick up available
Lunch & snacks included

Deirdre O' Mara School of Irish Dance - 265 Central Park Ave Yonkers NY 10704 4 weeks of camp starting Mon July 8th 9am to 3pm - $275 per week - Lunch & snacks included Early drop off and late pick up available 8.30am to 5pm $5 per hour Dance class, arts & crafts, games, baking, sprinklers & more

25/06/2024

Summer class Tues & Thurs's 5 to 6 or 5 to 7pm
New students welcome

22/06/2024

Excited for our school feis & Mini Nationals today with Ryan McCombe judging

21/06/2024

I loved the recital last night, probably the most I have enjoyed one myself as usually I am too stressed. I liked the more relaxed vibe & the room is Rory Dolan's Restaurant, Bar, & Caterers was even bigger than I hoped without the tables. Thank you all & I will have a mic next time...
So very proud of each & every dancer & our SRS teaching crew
My fave pic of the night from little Brianna's mom

20/06/2024

Ro looking forward to tonight. We have not done a recital since 2019 so we are easing back into it with a fun night of drinks & dancing at Rory Dolan's Restaurant, Bar, & Caterers
We will go from youngest to oldest.
Great raffle prizes, see the previous video :)

19/06/2024

Summer Class tonight (instead of Thur for this week as we have our recital tomorrow)
5 to 6pm $15
5 to 7pm $25

19/06/2024

"The only people who see the whole picture are the ones who step outside the frame."

- Salman Rushdie

18/06/2024

We just had a very productive meeting of Clrgers from all over the world. We will continue to have the conversation in another meeting next week. This was our 6th & they have been so informative so thank you to everyone who is showing up to make a difference

18/06/2024

I don't "claim" to have panic attacks. I suffer from, live with, manage and survive panic disorder & GAD & despite that I have the most beautiful life & wonderful business that I am so proud of. I speak openly about my struggles in the hope that I might help anyone else to know that you have to push back against panic to make sure it doesn't make your life smaller.
These vicious voy boards in Irish dance are a haven for cowards & bullies.
I pity the person who wrote this (I know you will see it as you are obviously stalking my FB page)

"Courage is the most important of virtues because, without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently." –Maya Angelou

17/06/2024

Please share with anyone looking for a great camp for their kids this summer ⛱💚🧚‍♀️💃⚽️🏸🩰🎨🪇
https://forms.gle/ZxbuPEy7tWzymtyY6

14/06/2024

My optimism and hope were misplaced. The chairperson raised the option to put aside standing orders & bring the motion back to the floor re changing the constitution to allow structural change to CLRG Irish Dancing Commission
It was voted against setting aside the rules.
So no meaningful change is possible.
I am sick 😭
They voted for a one time levy against teachers but not sure who is going to pay that with out change
So utterly disappointed & heartbroken
You have ruined it for everyone. I hope you are proud of yourself, you have clung on to it to the death 💔

14/06/2024

CLRG Irish Dancing Commission meeting starting at 4pm
Please say a prayer. I'm a big believer in the power of prayer & we really need them 😬🍀⚡️⌚️🪠🪞❤️‍🩹🇮🇪

14/06/2024

Last Sun at the United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc. feis I watched this little girl, she is not one of mine but she stood out to me. Watch the left side of the video. She showed how you deal with life, you get up & dust yourself off & try again...
I love her

13/06/2024

If anyone from the 115 people from the CLRG Irish Dancing Commission members of the EGM tomorrow would be willing to come on a meeting after your meeting to update us we would greatly appreciate it. I am praying for you all to do the right thing. Or at least 66% of you
I figured I might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb at this point ;)

13/06/2024

For everyone following the current situation with CLRG Irish Dancing Commission Irish Dancing Commission. Without going into the details, it is dire.
Tomorrow Fri June 15th an Emergency General Meeting will be held on zoom for the 115 members of the voting body of CLRG.
There are 16 motions on the table the 2 most important ones being the 100 Euro increases for both the teachers (registrants) & the students who enter the World championships going forward.
In the past 3 weeks I have been immersed in all things CLRG & what follows is my understanding of what happens next.
We have 2 constitutions (don't ask) & they need to be combined in order to operate efficiently going forward.
In order to do that or make any significant changes we need to be able to make changes to the constitution at each meeting rather than only at the AGM, which is the current situation.
As this was voted on 3 weeks ago (and was voted down 😭) it can only be reintroduced tomorrow by 1 person, the cathaoirleach (chair) of CLRG
The cathaoirleach can ask to set aside "standing orders" (rules) & revote on the motion to amend the constitution
2/3 of the 115 members need to agree with the cathaoirleach
If they do, then 2/3 of the 115 members need to vote yes to allowing amendments to the constitution at any regular meeting of CLRG
Without this we can not change
This ability is what I want to be the outcome of tomorrow's meeting so that we can go forward & make the changes we need to make & that so many good people are hard at work on as we speak & have been for years in some cases. (I say I as I don't want to speak for anyone else but encourage my colleagues to join me in that ask)
This means increased dues & fees, without which the following will happen if we don't pass the motions.
"Should the membership decide not to approve an increase in registration fees, the Council of
Management must advise the Charities Regulator and auditors that the company is insolvent and will
move into liquidation. All assets will be forfeited, including the Dublin premises, and all staff terminated." From CLRG update from today
There is a lot that needs to be fixed within the organization. I am by no means oblivious to any of that. But we need to survive to be able to continue the work of change.
I know I am not meant to post this but there are so many people in this world of Irish dance that are affected by what is going on that I think the time for transparency is long past.
Please think about if you want a CLRG & then step up to do the hard work to make it an organization we can be as proud of as we are of our dancers.
Sincerely
Deirdre O' Mara TMRF

13/06/2024

This right here...
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
― Maya Angelou
CLRgers meeting today at 11am ET / 4pm Irish time
The all important EGM of CLRG Irish Dancing Commission is tomorrow evening. Please keep us in your prayers that we have the strength to do better. Our students are watching

12/06/2024

In the middle of a very crazy day yesterday I had an appt to do an interview with a local Yonkers storyteller Ru Ros
I didn't realize it was a live event... 🥴🙃😳
Yonkers Voice News

10/06/2024

There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.

Oscar Wilde ;)

10/06/2024

Two 90 Minute meeting this week at Teachers Talk before the all important EGM on June 14th
Tues & Thurs at 11am ET / 4pm Irish Time.
New sign ups only, if you have been at any of the meetings you are already on the list.
The children are watching us
Sign up link -

Meeting Time - Tues June 11th & Thurs June 13th at 10am ET 4pm Irish time Zoom - Link will be sent 1 hour before each meeting Contact Deirdre at (201) 679 1450 or on Whatsapp [email protected] or on FB messenger Our students are watching us... let's improve the view “The oak fought the win...

10/06/2024

I really don't know where this dance year has gone, but somehow this is our last week of regular classes!
Summer schedule starts next week on June 18th
Drop in classes Tues & Thurs all summer 5 to 6 & 5 to 7pm
Summer Camp starts on July 8th - Aug 2nd
Summer WS with Adrian Kelly and the The Irish Dance Academy is Aug 19th to 23rd
Link to Summer Camp - https://forms.gle/SmhMsjAVtYoQqp9v6
My website - https://deirdreomara.com/
Please share

08/06/2024

Please sign & share

Put children at the heart of CLRG

07/06/2024

https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/irish-dance-teacher-clrg-petition

An Irish dance teacher in New York has launched a petition urging CLRG to "listen to your teachers" as the organization faces a dire situation.

07/06/2024

I don't have much time right now but I wanted to write something. We had another powerful teachers meeting this morning for 2 hours. I am so saddened by how my colleagues at home feel right now with the reputation & the beating Irish dance is taking in Ireland . I had known that, & get a lot of texts about it, but hearing it spoken about so eloquently & painfully really broke my heart. That something so beautiful should become so tarnished. We have to do better. I will do better. I may not be proud of our organization right now, but I am so proud of my fellow dance teachers. CLRG Irish Dancing Commission leadership, I am inviting you to 2 meetings next week. Tues June 11th & Thurs June 13th at 11pm ET 4pm Irish time to hear us. We deserve to be heard. We are worth listening to & despite everything we are willing to help you right the ship. Look into your own heart & ask yourself are you a part of the problem or the solution. Be honest. Be brave & do the right thing.
It is time to put our students at the heart of this organization where they belong. If we do not, I do not want to be a part of it anymore & I have been with CLRG since I was dancing in the blue shed of Marie Walsh Kelly in her back garden when I was 4 years old. I loved it then. I love it now. My heart is as broken as the organization. We are willing to work to fix this. I call on each & everyone one of you to share & comment on this post. We will be heard & we will speak up in the best interest of our children.
If you value the beauty & artistry of Irish dance & all it brings to all of our lives especially our children please sign this petition to show CLRG Irish Dancing Commission we want our dance form restored.
Go raibh maith agaibh
Deirdre O' Mara

Put children at the heart of CLRG

06/06/2024

Our newest PL dancer Beckie & our newest Open dancer Aislinn
Well done girls

04/06/2024

Fri June 7th - 90 minute meeting for CLRG teachers at 9am EDT / 2pm GMT
No need to sign up again if you already are on the list.
We now have 25% of Clrgers signed up which is great....
Sign up link - https://forms.gle/MMDtgB5cP7gMZBZe6

30/05/2024

Busy few days ahead
McLean Ave Memorial day parade today at 6pm - Stillwell Park to the Bajart post - SRS gear to march for kids

Sat - Flynn Feis & then the school sleepover

3 weeks to our school recital in Rory Dolan's Restaurant, Bar, & Caterers

Mini Nationals & School feis on Sat June 22nd
31 days to Nationals...