The McCafferty School of Dance has a rich tradition in Irish Dance with over 40 years of teaching history in the family. Fiona has kept the McCafferty tradition of Dance alive as the 3rd member of the family to gain T.C.R.G recognition & setup the Australian sister school. At the age of 2 Fiona commenced dancing with Mary Soal along with sisters Brenda and Annemarie together with brother Donal. Mary Soal had seen the family dance and recognising the commitment & dedication asked to tutor them privately. She then travelled an hour and a half from Derry to the family’s home in Donegal to further the talented children’s dancing abilities.
Strong musical inspiration also ran through the family with traditional instruments & playing respected & encouraged. Donal would go on to become a very sought after Accordion & Banjo player.
Brenda also accomplished in the Accordion, Fiddle & Tin Whistle.
Annemarie adept at the Fiddle & Tin Whistle.
Fiona skilled at Marching Drumming & Tin Whistle.
Shaun on the Bodhran.
Donal at the age of 20, the eldest of the McCafferty children retired from Competitive dancing as the Ulster Champion and completed his T.C.R.G. He then established the McCafferty School of Dance in 1984. Donal then went on to build a huge & well respected school in Donegal. His musical talent was in high demand as a musician where he played for Dance Competitons such as the Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht, All Irelands and World Championships.
Tragedy struck the family on the 22nd December 1988 when at the age of 25 Donal was struck down in his prime. With the well-established School now in high demand the family were keen to continue the legacy begun by Donal. Annemarie was inspired to take the reins & continue the tradition and promptly acquired her T.C.R.G to keep alive the McCafferty School of Dance. To this day Annemarie upholds the McCafferty School of Dance in Donegal Ireland producing many Champion Dancers and mentoring former students through the process of gaining their own T.C.R.G. Annemarie is a committed member of the C.L.R.G. She is regularly employed at competitions for her strong adjudicatory abilities, having held her A.D.R.C.G for many years.