Patricia Daley, Michael O'Hara ADCRG, Nicola O'Hara TCRG



Michael O’Hara, ADCRG, Director, began his Irish dance training at the age of 12 at the Peter Smith School of Irish Dance in New Jersey.  He enjoyed great success as a solo and team dancer, having numerous national and international Irish dance champion titles to his credit.  Michael remained under the tutelage of the renowned Peter Smith for his entire Irish dance schooling.

In 1993, Michael was awarded the title "Master of Irish Dance" and certification as a qualified Irish dance teacher (TCRG) by An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha in Dublin, Ireland.  In 2007, Michael was certified as an ADCRG (Irish Dance adjudicator) by An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha.

He has produced some of the finest Irish dancers around, claiming North American, All-Ireland, Great Britain, Southern and Eastern Region champions.  Many dancers have also gone on to star in professional touring Irish dance shows around the world.  Michael has performed throughout the world with entertainers such as Frank Patterson, Hal Roach, Andy Cooney, Stockton's Wing, Clancy Brothers, Cherish the Ladies, Wolfe Tones, Natalie MacMaster and also danced the lead role in the hit Irish dance show, Common Ground.  His performance in Common Ground was described by the Palm Beach Post as a "scintillating display of flying feet".

Michael has been described as "one of the most influential Irish Dance teachers in the Southern Region" (Hornpipe Magazine) and as a "rising star adjudicator" (Irish Dancing Magazine).

He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America - Southern Region as the Past Regional Director.  He served as Regional Director from 2005-2007, and previously as Assistant Regional Director and Recording Secretary.

Michael also currently serves on the Dance adjudication panel for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts Program sponsored by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA).  The program selects the top high school artists in the United States, with the very best being chosen to receive the Presidential Scholarship in the Arts Medal from the President of the United States.   He previously served on the preliminary adjudication panel and also as the Master Irish Dance teacher for the program.

Michael O'Hara was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and currently resides with his wife, Nicola, in Miami Shores, Florida.  In addition to teaching Irish Dance, Michael is employed as the Director of Housing Development for the City of Miami Beach.






  

  
  
  Nicola McEleney-O'Hara, TCRG, a native of Clonmany, Co. Donegal, 
  Ireland, began dancing at the age of 3.   Nicola performed and 
  successfully competed throughout Ireland, England and the United States.  
  She has performed for the President of Ireland, appeared on National 
  Television in both Ireland and England, performed onstage with many 
  outstanding musicians including Natalie MacMaster, James Kelly, Daithi Sproule 
  (Altan), Cephas & Wiggins, The Volunteers and many more.  




  
 



  

  Nicola graduated in 1997 as valedictorian from John Moores University, 
  Liverpool, England, with a BSc. (Honors) in Business Information Systems.  
  She enjoyed a successful career as a Systems Analyst at Mount Sinai Medical 
  Center, before deciding to teach Irish Dance full-time.

  

  Nicola has successfully represented the USA at the World Championships on 
  several occasions, and retired from competition after being crowned the 2001 Southern Region Irish 
  Dance Champion.  In 2002, she was a recipient of the National Foundation 
  of the Arts Astral Career Award for choreography.



  
 



  

  In 2004, Nicola was awarded the title "Master of Irish Dance" and certification 
  as a qualified Irish dance teacher (TCRG) by An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha in 
  Dublin, Ireland.



  

   



  

  Nicola currently serves on the preliminary adjudication panel for the 
  Presidential Scholar in the Arts Program sponsored by the National Foundation 
  for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA).  She is also the Master Irish Dance 
  teacher for the program.



  
 



  

   Patricia Daley, Nicola's sister, is a former An Comhdhail All-Ireland 
  champion and is an instructor at the Breffni Academy.    
  Patricia's daughter, Kiera, is a champion dancer at the Breffni Academy.




  

   



Accreditation

The Breffni Academy of Irish Dance is fully accredited by An 
Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha (World Irish Dance Commission - Dublin, Ireland),
Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America, and the 
Southern Region Irish Dance Teachers Association.  This accreditation guarantees 
that each student is taught by a teacher - trained, qualified and certified by 
the world governing body of Irish Dance, An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha.  It 
also allows the dancers the opportunity to compete at feiseanna (Irish dance 
competitions) throughout the world.