These examinations will take part in Merville House, Merville Garden Village, Newtownabbey BT37, Belfast.

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Join the Motorway M1 (Belfast) at Lisburn Sprucefield. Continue to the end of the motorway where you join the Westlink – do not turn left or right. At this stage there should be signs for the Motorway M2. Stay on the Westlink until it ends at the main junction with traffic lights. Cut straight across these lights and directly on to the Motorway M2

Take the M2 motorway leaving at Junction 2 (A2 Greencastle). Turn right onto the A2 (Greencastle) and continue along the Shore Road through two sets of main traffic lights. Merville House is situated in Merville Garden Village which is on the left, just after the Abbey Centre (2nd set of main traffic lights). Turn into the village which is fronted by a set of shops and turn left again. Follow road up the hill and the big white house is in on the right.

Recommendations for candidates to stay would be any of the hotels in the city centre that way they have access to the M2 – they would include Radisson in the Gasworks, Holiday Inn, Jury’s Inn, Hilton, Days Inn or access from the other side of M2 Hilton Templepatrick and the Templeton Templepatrick

A celebration of 60 years teaching Irish Dancing was held in Lipton’s Social Club in Gorbals on Saturday 13th October 2007 and consisted of ceili dancing, music and song in recognition of a life full of dancing and music. Considering this was the school autumn break in Scotland and many were on holiday, Ann was delighted a number of Scottish teachers were still able to attend, and she was extremely pleased at the Irish representation which included teachers and some of their husbands.

Ann was born of Fermanagh and Scottish parents and began dancing at the age of 7yrs. The dancing class was held in a hall in 49 Rutherglen Road Glasgow under the tuition of Peggy O’Neill who had come to Glasgow from Robertstown Co. Kildare Ireland. Irish dancing was one of the many activities run in these premises under the auspices of Fianna Fail. At this young age Ann was too young to be allowed to travel on her own and was dependent on an older cousin to take her to classes. Whereas in todays terms Cambuslang would not be classed as distant, in 1940 it would be considered too far for children to travel unaccompanied. Ann was therefore forced to take timeout. However, on her 11th birthday after a lot of pleading she was allowed to go on her own for dancing tuition and she has been dancing ever since, followed by years teaching. When Ann started dancing the cost of a lesson was sixpence (old money) increasing to one shilling, then one and sixpence and then two shillings

After a few years the Rutherglen Road premises closed and both Fianna Fail and the dancing class moved to Clydeferry Street. A few years later Peggy O’Neill moved to William Street and so began the famous O’Neill School of Irish Dancing. In the late 40s the school moved to the Hibernian Hall in Errol Street where it remained for many years. Peggy O’Neill had a period of ill health and the older dancers were encouraged to practice beginners and young dancers and they were also encouraged to teach in local parishes. This gave Ann a great desire to start teaching. In the early days when your teacher thought you were capable you found a hall and started teaching. Later the Irish Dancing Commission insisted that everyone teaching would have to be qualified and so all those teaching had to sit the T.C.R.G qualifying examination. A few years later Ann sat and passed her Adjudicators Examination (A.D.C.R.G). In 1982 Ann also became the first person outside Ireland to be selected to sit on the Panel (Board of Examiners) which examines candidates who wish to become teachers and adjudicators.

Ann began teaching in 1946 in St. Columbkille’s Hall in Rutherglen and then in Clydebank where the Shamrock School was formed. Over the years the school had progressed and had classes in many areas. Jimmy McHugh, the All Ireland Champion Fiddle player came to Glasgow in 1946 from Omagh Co.Tyrone and played for Peggy O’Neill’s dancing classes and for Feisanna for 35years. In 1953 Jimmy and Ann started dating and married in 1956. This became a terrific partnership – Jimmy playing fiddle at classes and Ann teaching dancing. Through the years many audiences were to welcome the talents and see Ann’s dancers the Shamrock School of dancing along with Jimmy’s band, the Four Provinces Ceili Band perform together at many Folk Festivals all over Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Islands, England and the Continent. Sadly Jimmy passed away in 1999.

When Ann’s daughter Roisin qualified as a T.C.R.G the school name changed to Shamrock Academy. When Caroline Boyle (daughter of one of Jimmy’s great musician friends) a senior pupil qualified as a T.C.R.G the school became the McHugh-Boyle school. Caroline retired from teaching earlier this year so the school has reverted back to the Shamrock Academy.

Ann has stated that she has enjoyed immensely her time teaching over the last 60years although naturally not as active as she once was in her earlier years. Ann has served as Secretary of the Scottish Branch for many years, held positions of Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary on the Executive of An Comhdhail and has also been and Executive member of An Comhdhail for over 30 years.
Ann has been involved in Irish Dancing her whole life and is undoubtedly one of the great authorities on Irish Dancing especially in Scotland over the last 60 years with an unparalleled knowledge of dancers, teachers and all things pertaining to Irish Dancing. Due to her many commitments and travels and obtaining a hall, it was unfortunate not have this event held in October 2006 (as 2007 is actually Ann’s 61st year teaching) but this night of honour turned into a truly wonderful evening.

The highlight of the night was the dancing competition – the McHugh Championships judged by our 5 adjudicators from Ireland, Brenda Bastable, Pat Kennedy, Maura Shanahan, Olive Keogh and Nuala Dunne. Competitors consisted of three of Ann’s sons – Kevin, Michael and Ciaran the ones who never danced. The result was 1st-Michael and a tie for second Kevin and Ciaran.

Along with Jimmy, Ann was very much involved in Irish Traditional music and was one of the founder members of Comhaltas in Britain serving as Glasgow Secretary for many years. When the split in Irish Dancing occurred in 1969, Ann was one of the founder members of An Comhdhail. It cannot be emphasised enough the contribution Ann has made to Irish Dancing and Irish Culture in Scotland, Ireland and beyond showing she is truly a remarkable woman with a remarkable career in Irish Dancing. Ann hopes she can continue teaching Irish Dancing for a few more years and is also very willing to offer her help and expertise to anyone looking for information on dancing matters.

The Rachel Kelly School, located in Cork travelled to Gdansk in Poland on September 25th for the Gdansk Fesitval of Culture. The group included 20 dancers between the ages of 10 and 20. It was the school's first trip abroad and was a tremendous success. Their main concerts took place outside the beautiful Town Hall in the old part of the city. They also took part in workshops, concerts, parades and in the 'Irish Day', which was organised by the local secondary school in their honour. They were also extremely pleased to get the chance to meet Lech Valesa, the former President of Poland and Nobel Prize Winner at his office. Following the success of their visit to Gdansk, the Irish Embassy have invited them back to Poland in the near future and they are really looking forward to that. For the dancers and parents who travelled, it was a trip of a lifetime!