Derry girl crowned British National Open Champion in Irish dancing

A Derry girl claimed the honour of being crowned British National Open Champion in Irish Dancing. 

Kaci McConnell-Doherty claimed the title on October 27, beating off tough competition to stand at the top of the podium to hold the distinction of being the British Champion at the Under-10 level.

The Carnhill Primary School student was emotional ecstatic as she was announced as the winner.

Emmett Doherty, her father, said: “That was her first major title victory, having won a few grades and a few feis’, but for her to win a major like that was incredible.

“She took Irish dancing up around Covid about four years ago and started dancing in a car park. 

“Everything was outside because you couldn’t go inside due to the restrictions at the time, but that didn’t put her off.

“She loves it.”

Despite a peculiar beginning to her journey to become the British Champion, her training and dancing experience with Deery Academy in a car park laid the groundwork for her flawless score of 500 in the competition.

Kaci’s journey continues as she will be competing in Leinster in two weeks time before the World Championships in Dublin in April 2025.

Deery Academy had a successful CRDM British National Championships, with Kaci claiming the Open championship but also five other dancers claiming preliminary crowns: Fiadh Fletcher (U-9), Daisy Curran (U-10), Ella Rose Bradley (U-11), Aoife Bowen (U-13), and Chloe Doherty (U-15).

Mr Doherty puts this success down to the coach at the academy.

He said: “Emma Deery, she plays a big part in it, and she is incredible with all the dancers in Deery Academy; the progression of them is astounding, and it is great to see the dance group, which is relatively small, succeed on such a stage.”