More than 30 talented dancers from the O’Malley Irish Dance Academy proudly represented their communities at the 2026 North American Irish Dance Championships (NAIDC), bringing home impressive honors from one of the most prestigious competitions in Irish dance.
Often described as the Irish dance equivalent of the Super Bowl, the North American Irish Dance Championships attract the best dancers from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Only dancers who qualify through regional competitions earn the opportunity to compete on this elite stage.
The O’Malley Irish Dance Academy team, made up of dancers from Breezy Point, Rockaway, and Brooklyn, earned their place at the national championships after outstanding performances at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Oireachtas held in Philadelphia in November. Their regional success qualified them to compete against North America’s top Irish dancers in Orlando.
Months of dedication, discipline, and hard work led to this achievement. Dancers spend countless hours perfecting intricate footwork, precise movements, timing, and endurance while training in traditional set dancing, solo dancing, and céilí team dancing. Their commitment was evident throughout the week-long championship.
The academy celebrated numerous top finishes across multiple age divisions:
Adult Trad
14th – Mary Glynn
Trad Set U16
8th – Juliette McMahon
14th – Mikaela Smylie
Trad Set U15
1st – Matteo Gomez
Trad Set U14
14th- Elizabeth Johnson
Trad Set U13
15th – Nico Gomez
Trad Set U12
14th – Julianna Rella
Trad Set U11
12th – Scarlett Maggio
Girls 4H U11
14th – Scarlett, Autumn, Lucy and Nora G
Adult Ladies 4H
11th – Mary, Shannon, Kelli and Keelin
Mixed 8H 16 & 0
4th – Tommy, Matteo, Katie, Molly, Emily, Brianne, Nora and Grace
