"It was the most beautiful thing I ever saw..."

Noreen began her Irish dance training at age five under the care of the incomparable Peter J. Smith, ADCRG, CLRG President Emeritus.  Peter was the first American-born certified teacher with An Comisiun and is a founding member of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America.  At the Peter Smith School, Noreen had the honor of training under world class instructors including Peter Smith, Jimmy Friel, Marie Duffy Pask, and Mona Roddy. 

Noreen enjoyed a very successful competitive career.  As a solo dancer, she rose to the highest rank of Open Champion, qualifying for and dancing in the World Championships by the time she was twelve years old.  Noreen also competed in many successful ceili teams, peaking with four Mid-Atlantic Regional titles over the years.  She and her fellow Senior Ladies 8-hand Ceili represented the Mid-Atlantic Region and the Peter Smith School at the World Championships from 2003 through 2005, earning an an official World Medal in Ennis, Co. Clare, in their last competition.

Outside of the competition world, Noreen enjoyed many opportunities within the Irish dance community, including performances at Carnegie Hall and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center with the late and beloved Frank Patterson.  Other exciting performances include The Chieftans (NJPAC), Cathy Ryan (Union County Arts Center), and The New Jersey Irish Festival, and countless nursing homes, VFWs, AOHs, and Knights of Columbus' etc. that each hold a very special place in Noreen's heart.
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Photo: Howard Miller Photography



Since retiring from competition, Noreen has enjoyed performances all over North America.  Favorites include dancing with celtic rock band Scythian at Celtic Fling, the National Building Museum, Fado's Pub, and McGinty's Irish House, the US/Canada tour of "The Magic of Ireland," a special guest appearance with Irish Blessing, and the world premiere of "Rhythm in the Night" at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center in Sarasota.  She returned as co-choreographer for "Rhythm in the Night," and led the cast as Azura and dance captain in its first national tour in 2014.  

Noreen earned her TCRG (Teagascóir Coimisiúin le Rinci Gaelacha) in the fall of 2009 on her first attempt, passing the teaching certification exam with excellent marks.  While on staff at Scoil Rince Saoirse in New York from 2011 - 2016, she helped the school raise its first World Qualifier, first Open Championship dancers, a North American Championships "top three" 8 hand ceili, and two Mid Atlantic regional ceili titles. 

​While no longer registered with An Comisiun, Noreen enjoys supporting her friends and colleagues who are still involved.  





 

Please enjoy a 1:15 compilation of Noreen's favorite Irish dance performances.