I started Irish dancing at the age of 8 with Margaret Robson of the Robson School of Irish Dancing based in Middlesbrough, Teesside (still going strong after 30years). I quickly progressed to open standard winning the Regional Championships and qualifying for the World Championships twice before I stopped dancing at the age of 13.

At the age of 30 I was looking for another form of exercise, other than the gym and joined an adults Irish Dancing class in Reading, Berkshire, run by David James (The Heneghan/James School of Irish Dancing, see dance classes section). I started dancing again and quickly became addicted.

Whilst David taught the adult classes his good friend Linda Heneghan taught the children.  In 2004 Linda asked if I could take over the teaching of the childrens classes. As the children progressed some expressed an interest in competitions so I decided to study for my TCRG (teachers exam). I studied hard (I didn't know any ceili dances and had to make up all the required steps). I took my exam in Belfast in December 2005 and passed first time.  I can honestly say that when I got my results in January 2006 it was the happiest day of my life.

It was from then on that the "O’Gara School of Irish Dance" was formed. The school had its first class feis in June 2006 with 30 children attending. Our second class feis was in July 2007 with 90 children!!