The Celtic Academy is Directed by Mary Laffey, Kathleen Dwyer, and Laureen Laffey, all of whom are certified by the Governing Board of Irish Dance, An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha, in Ireland. 

     The mission of the Celtic Academy is to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the Irish culture through dance.  We are dedicated to teaching students as individuals, instilling a positive self-confidence in our dancers and helping them to achieve their highest level of this unique form of dance.  We are open to all persons regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality, or age.  The most important item being, you don't have to be Irish to appreciate Irish Dance!

Mary Laffey, TCRG - began her Irish dancing career with the Hibernian Irish Dancers at the early age of 5.  Mary had an illustrious competitive career for over 18 years and retired in 1989 after dancing at the World Championships in Ireland.  At that time, Mary assumed ownership, directorship and artistic control of The Celtic Academy of Irish Dance (formerly the Hibernian Irish Dancers).  Then, in 1991 Mary received her official teaching certification (TCRG) from An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, the Irish Dancing Governing Board in Ireland.  Under Mary’s direction, The Celtic Academy of Irish Dance has grown from a school of less than 20 dancers in 1989 to now over more than 125 dancers – becoming one of Dayton’s premier Irish dance schools.  Her guidance and teaching ability has led the Academy to repeatedly place at local competitions, the Regional Championships, the National Championships, and qualify solo and team dancers for the World Championships in Ireland, and successfully placed a team at the 2003 World Championships in Killarney.  Her artistic creativity is best reflected through the numerous productions she has choreographed over the years – to include the development of dance routines for plays and the Academy’s own “Celtic Movements.”  Mary’s devotion to the Irish culture and dance is evident in her enthusiasm and dedication to her craft and to her dancers.  Mary holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Wright State University, is a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, United Irish of Dayton, Dayton Feis Society, Irish Dance Teacher’s Association of Mid-America, Irish Dance Teacher’s Association of North America, and An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha.  Mary attributes her success to the support from her husband, Dan Beemsterboer, as well as her family and friends, her dancers, and her teaching partners at the Celtic Academy, Laureen & Kathleen.

 

Kathleen Dwyer, TCRG - began her Irish dancing career at the early age of 5.  Kathleen first competed at the World Championships in 1983 at twelve years of age.  She continued her competitive career and retired in 1990 after dancing again at the World Championships in Ireland.  Kathleen graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Management in 1995.  In 1998 Kathleen received her official teaching certification (TCRG) from An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, the Irish Dancing Governing Board in Ireland.  Her guidance and teaching ability has led the Academy to repeatedly place at Local Competitions, the Regional Championships, the National Championships, and Qualify solo and team dancers for the World Championships in Ireland, and successfully placing a team at the 2003 World Championships in Killarney.  Kathleen’s devotion to the Irish culture and dance is evident in her enthusiasm and dedication to her craft and to her dancers.  Kathleen is a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish Dance Teacher’s Association of Mid-America, Irish Dance Teacher’s Association of North America, and An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha.  Kathleen attributes her success to the support from her husband, Shane, as well as her Mother, Father, her late Aunt Tess, friends, her dancers, and her teaching partners at the Celtic Academy, Laureen & Mary.

 

Laureen Laffey, TMRF - began her Irish dancing career with the Hibernian Irish Dancers at the early age of 5.  After many successful years of competitive dancing Laureen began teaching the Hibernian Dancers at the young age of 16 due to the marriage and move of her teacher Julie Wahlrab, TCRG.  After a brief retirement Laureen returned to teaching with her sister Mary Laffey-Beemsterboer, TCRG and Kathleen Doyle-Dwyer, TCRG at the Celtic Academy.  Laureen is the Director and artistic composer for the adult division of the academy.  In 1999 Laureen received her teaching certificate in Ceili dancing (TMRF) from An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, the Irish Dancing Governing Board in Ireland.  Under her teaching ability and master skills in ceili dancing, the adults have placed repeatedly on the Local, Regional and National levels winning the Regional Championships on more than one occasion and placing in the top three for the last several years.  Since 2002, Laureen has been teaching the youth ceili classes with the assistance of Mary and Kathleen.  The youth dancers have placed on the local, Regional, National and World levels alike.  Laureen’s devotion to Irish Dance spans back to her early years as a dancer herself.  She loves the sport and finds great pride in her students through their hard work and determination.  Laureen works as a full time Office Manger for a physician group in the Northern Miami Valley.  She travels to Dayton to teach at the academy part time.  She is a member of United Irish of Dayton, Dayton Feis Society, Irish Dance Teacher’s Association of Mid-America, Irish Dance Teacher’s Association of North America and An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha.  Laureen attributes her success to the support of her family, friends, students and teaching partners Mary and Kathleen.