Niamh 💁🏼👯

Niamh, 21 Irish dancer 🏆🏆 5th at Worlds - 3rd at the Leinsters -7th at the All Ireland's

[mason-cummins-academy]

May we never see elegance go out of style!!

[niamht13]

My new dress is here and I am IN LOVE 💕💕

[the-girl-in-black-and-gold-deac]

Visit Original Link

Kev Joyce played the hornpipe to end all hornpipes

[csweetser8]

[something-eclectic]

Huge (Indirectly Related to Dance) News!

My apologies if you are my friend on Facebook and you are hearing this for the second time…I’m just too excited to keep it to myself!

My book ENSHRINE has been contracted for publication and I am over the moon excited and happy. Dance is a sub plot (can’t call it Irish since it takes place in a fictional world) and pretty much this is my weird round about way of telling you to never give up on your dreams, whatever they happen to be. I never thought I’d be published ever, let alone at 27 years old so DO IT!

I’ll be making a separate Tumblr as things progress and I would love if you would give me a follow when the time comes but for now let’s ride the wave of awesomeness that has been 2017 so far and win all our dances as feis season starts up again!

[ashleighhopkins08]

Guess I’ll jump on the band wagon 😜 another year in the books for me, and I couldn’t be more thankful. 6th at the all Scotland’s, 6th at the NANs, 9th at the All Irelands, and 2nd in the Southern US region for the 2nd year! Sitting out from the worlds was probably the strangest part of this year after going to the past 10 (I didn’t attend my first worlds that I qualified for). And the best moment was standing side-by-side with my best friend as she qualified for the Worlds at the NANs after a very hard year with the loss of her father and almost a year off dancing!! There have been many, many, many ups and downs, tears, laughter, frustration, and everything in between but I would not change one moment of this year. I have learned to quit being so hard on myself, to man up when I’m feeling lazy, that a glass of wine every now and then is not only okay but COMPLETELY NECESSARY, and re-learned that laughter is the best medicine (seriously, how could I forget that?!) 😹😹 I wouldn’t be anywhere though without the good Lord above 🙏🏻, my family, friends, boyfriend, teachers, co-workers, bosses, and everybody else. Can’t wait to see what this next year will bring!!! 😁😋 also, special shout-out to @baileyquigley who has been there everyday with me ❤

[niamht13]

New dress 💃🏼

I got the design of my new dress today 🙌🏻 and to say I'm excited is an understatement 😍 it is beyond perfect and I honestly cannot wait until the 18th of January when I can try it on and take it home 💃🏼💚

[youmaysayimadreamer3]

This year has been more than I could have possibly asked for, especially after everything that had happened last year with throwing away Nationals and not being able to dance at the Oireachtas. After the Worlds in March, I thought I was done dancing solos - I would continue teams, but my solo career was done. That’s what everyone kept telling me. And I thought I was okay with that. But, the more time I spent away from dance, the more I realized how much I missed it and how much I loved it. So, I danced at the Nationals in Orlando, not being able to walk away from the sport. The last time the nationals were in Orlando, I qualified for the Worlds for the first time and I was hoping it would bring me luck again. And it did. I qualified for the Worlds, placing 17th and jumping 27 places from last year, back into the top 20. I had reached my goal - I had qualified for Dublin 2017, where I danced at my first Worlds. And I was happy. Coming up to the Oireachtas, I was told I wasn’t going to be dancing a solo - I was only doing the teams. But, my mom and dance teachers had registered me without telling me. I only found out that I could dance the week before and I sat at the table crying for about 15 minutes because I was so happy. And it was the best thing they could’ve done because I had been unknowingly preparing for the Oireachtas without the stress I usually put on myself. And it worked out because I placed 3rd in an extremely difficult competition. This year has been the comeback year I was looking for. To show everyone that I am stronger than last year. The only difference is, now I’m not saying I’m done - I’ve got one more left in me. And I can’t wait to take on Dublin.✨

[scohoonphotography]

At first, I wasn’t going to do a 2016 recap because I didn’t think I could top 2015, but as I thought about it, 2016 was a BIG year for me. 

Camelia Rose was gracious enough to bring me along to Worlds again this year. Not only was I able to explore Scotland (I am in love with Edinburgh now and cannot wait to go back), but I was also gifted a ticket to the World’s Ball and was given that GORGEOUS dress since I didn’t bring anything appropriate for the Ball. I seriously felt like Cinderella because I was told I was going, went shopping for the dress, had my friend do my makeup, and did my hair all in the course of about 4 hours. After Worlds, I was able to visit London for the first time. My dad lived in London for a year, so I loved being able to see some of the places I have heard about growing up. I also was lucky enough to go to Orlando with Camelia Rose and got to go to Disney!! I swear I am still an 8 year old at heart, so I was beside myself there!

This summer, I became an “official photographer” and was finally able to sell my images under my own name. After the fiasco with the 2015 Oireachtas, it was nice to do what I love and make a little money doing it, without being told how and what to shoot. Scohoon Photography was at a school feis and six feiseanna and I am not afraid to admit that I am extremely proud of myself. I know I have said it before, but I am so excited to have found a way to continue sharing my love of Irish dance even though I don’t dance anymore. 

Oireachtas season was complete craziness this year. Not only did I work with Camelia Rose at NERO, MAO, and SRO, but I also was hired by Shamrock Photo to the the sole awards photographer at NERO and MAO. Working with Shamrock was a dream and it was such a great experience. The highlight of Oireachtas was meeting Mike Schaffer at the SRO. When I was competing, I always danced better when he was on my stage. I was so giddy while talking to him.

On a non-dance related note, after a year and a half of subbing, I FINALLY got my own classroom and teach kindergarten the school that I wanted to work at the most. 5/6 year olds are draining, but I absolutely love it. Last but not least, a few days ago, I GOT ENGAGED while on vacation in New Orleans!! I cannot stop staring at my hand. My fiance (still not used to saying that) picked out the perfect ring for me, I don’t think I could have picked a better one myself. 

I am sure that is WAY more than you cared to know about my life, so thanks for sticking around. I can’t wait to see what 2017 has in store, hopefully some new camera equipment. 

[curlywigsandbobbypins]

“Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there”

2016 was more than I could have ever dreamed for. At the start of the year, I made goals for the year that I thought I could achieve like getting into prelim and placing, but I also added some pretty crazy goals I didn’t really think I could achieve such as winning a prelim feis and qualifying for nationals. I was able to get my last first to move up to prelim at the beginning of the year and it felt so incredible because it took so much to get to that moment.

My favorite moment of the year was my last feis before the summer (I had been in prelim about two months). I was really hoping to place in prelim again. I slipped in my hard shoe round, so I wasn’t sure if this could happen anymore. When they did the medal rounds, I got a 2nd in hard shoe, but nothing in soft shoe. I couldn’t tell if I had placed or not. They started announcing placers and none of the numbers were mine. Once they got to top three, I was sure that I didn’t place. I was in complete shock when I heard my number called for first (I still wish I had a video of it because I was so happy and completely lost it). I couldn’t believe it, it was only my second time placing and I had won. As I was holding my award, I was emotional thinking about how happy and surprised I was and how amazing this felt. I had never been more surprised about something in my life. It was incredible to have so many people from my school and friends there to see the moment and its something I will never forget for the rest of my life. It was probably the happiest I’ve even been. Words can’t really even describe how I felt in that moment.   Over the summer and into the fall, I trained for Oireachtas and did a few feises getting 3rd, 4th, and 11th. At the end of October, I had the Harvest Time Feis. For the overall results, they got down to 2nd, and my number wasn’t called. I held my breath as they called out first and was overjoyed when I heard my number. All of my best friends were there and it was such an amazing moment to stand at the top of the podium and see your best friends cheering for you and so happy for you. As I stood on the podium, I was overwhelmed with how far I had come. I was now an open champion and qualified for the nationals! I truly thought that I would retire as a prelim and probably never go to nationals. I never imagined that after six months in prelim, I would get both my firsts.  Although it took a lot to get to this moment, it felt absolutely incredible.

Although I didn’t get the recall at Oireachtas, I’ve never been more motivated in my life. It has left me with a hunger to work harder and not stop till I get where I want to be. I’ve set some big goals for next year, but this year has taught me that if you set your goals high, you will push yourself until you get there. I never could have expected this year to go the way it did, but I couldn’t be more thankful. If someone had told me at the end of last year that I would have been an open champion a year from then, I wouldn’t have believed them. Sometimes we shock ourselves. It completely blows my mind all that I was able to accomplish this year. I am so thankful to my incredible teachers and friends for helping me get to where I am today. I’ve come such a long way in the past two years, and can’t wait to see what the future holds. Here’s to 2017! Onwards and upwards!

[ghillielove]

Aw I love this!!!! Congrats on an awesome year!!!

[something-eclectic]

Congrats to you on all of your accomplishments and can’t wait to see how 2017 plays out for you! See you at a feis sometime!

[curlywigsandbobbypins]

Thank you so much!!! @lodgeroad109 @ghillielove Thank you! Same to you! Hopefully I’ll see you soon!! @something-eclectic

[mylifebelikeadream]

My new journey in the world of dance.

I began this blog way back when to share my journey in the world of dance (the good, the bad and the in-between) and to inspire myself and others to reach for our dreams, but from this moment forward I am going to be using it for a different means. To be writing this brings me both happiness, sadness, a sense of gratitude, and a sense of thankfulness but I am hoping by sharing my new journey it helps me to maintain perspective and positivity, and also help me to reach my new goals - goals that now face a lot more challenge than originally expected.  I cant quite bring myself to write my journey that brought me to this moment, but one day when I feel Im ready I know I will. Over the past few weeks I have been at appointment after appointment, scan after scan and whilst there has been many tears and painkillers we have finally got a reasoning for the pain in my hip. With 4 tears internally in the hip joint including in the cartilage, as well as tendonitis, bursitis and extra growth, I now prepare for hip surgery on February 1st, and hope to defy my doctors who have said there are high chances I may never dance again. My goals have now turned from the World Championships in Dublin 2017, to hoping that one day I will be able to dance in my teachers exam. Over the years I have written these blogs to remind myself that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, and whilst my direction has changed, the values have not. At any time we have the power to say this is not how the story is going to end. You have the strength, the power and the courage to be whatever, whoever, or wherever you want to be - and I want to be a TCRG. <3

[fairyoftrickery]

Marshall Academy

[niamht13]

So this happened today 💃🏼 the consultation for me last ever solo dance dress has been had. I'm so nervous but excited 😬💕 have to say Rising Star are the nicest bunch of people I have ever worked with for a dance dress 💚 so happy I have them making my last dress 🖤

[drunkengauger69]

Oireachtas update: I still tear up watching the awards video. Going into Oireachtas I knew the competition was going to be tough so I never let myself get my hopes up. Even after 3 amazing rounds I told myself that anything could happen and was prepared for the worst. The results could have gone any way between the top 15 which I think says a lot about how talented all of these girls are<3 Placing 4th and getting back on the podium was one of the best feelings. Im extremely blessed to have the support that I do and can’t wait to continue working hard for worlds🎉 #rollondublin #newlook

[niamht13]

Found this on Facebook earlier today

[abbyirishdancer-deactivated2022]

This person should write a book

[humusofbandon67]

yes im at this exact spot right now. I needed this.

[niamht13]

Reblogging this cause it's so necessary 💕

[irish-dancer-56]

American Wake from Riverdance, as fast as I can play it without struggling.

[btflbrkwlls]

Action shots taken for a conceptual studio project this week, it felt good to put my shoes back on

[standfornothingfall4anythin-blog]

gorgeous shots !

[firishdancer]

what.

[niamht13]

So good 😍💕