Our
TEACHERS
FINNUALA IRWIN
Finnuala trained with well-renowned teacher Ted Kavanagh in England in her youth. After immigrating to Canada, she began her own teaching career in Saskatoon in 1977. In 1985, she established the Irwin School of Irish Dancing in Calgary.
Finnuala has both her teaching and adjudicating qualifications and is certified with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha in Ireland. She has trained dancers who have placed at local, national and international competitions and dancers that have been in shows such as Riverdance, Lord of the Dance and Trinity. Many of her students, including her own two daughters have followed in her footsteps and gone on to become certified Irish dancing teachers.
Finnuala balances her dancing profession with her art career.
ANDREA JARDINE (IRWIN)
Andrea Irwin began dancing at the age of 3. She attained consistent top 10 placings at the North American championships with a highest placing of 6th, and won the Western Canadian Oireachtas title numerous times. She holds a Great Britain, an All-Ireland and a World recall medal and has won many open championships in her dance career. She has performed in countless events over the years including the Olympics Opening Ceremonies, the Grey Cup half-time show and Pops with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. She has completed her teaching and adjudication qualifications.
SARAH GROENEWOUD (IRWIN)
Sarah Irwin began her dancing career at 3 years old and has competed at the open level from a very young age. She has won 1st place at the Western Canadian Oireachtas several times, and has placed as high as 4th at the North American Championships with consistent top ten rankings. She holds a World recall medal and has achieved many open championship titles. She has performed at countless events and toured with the popular show Trinity on their North American tour for 3 years. She has completed her teaching and adjudicating qualifications. .
NUALA MCCREANOR
Nuala McCreanor has been a member of the Irwin School for many years. As an open level dancer, she has placed at both the Western Canadian Oireachtas and at the North American Irish Dancing Championships. She became an Irish dancing teacher in 2007 upon achieving her T.C.R.G. certification in Los Angeles.
