INSTRUCTORS
Amy Mooney
Amy Mooney, TCRG, began her Irish dance training at the age of 5. She has danced with the O'Hare School of Irish Dance under Michael O'Hare, Inis Acla under Mary McGinty-Sweeney, and Glor na hEireann Academy under Abbey Pride. She enjoyed great success as a solo dancer winning numerous competitions across the United States. She has successfully represented the USA at the World Championships on several occasions and in 2001 was named the Ladies Under 19 Southern Region Champion. At the age of 20 Amy retired from her competitive career to pursue her TCRG certification. In October 2004 Amy passed her TCRG exam and received certification from An Colmisuin Le Rinci Gaelacha (World Irish Dance Commission, Dublin, Ireland). In January 2005 she formed the Antrim Academy of Irish Dance. In 2006 she graduated with a marketing degree for Augusta State University while teaching dance full time. In the short time that she has been teaching, she has already successfully qualified dancers for national and world championships.
Philomena Mooney
Philomena began dancing in Galway, Ireland at age 7. In 1969 the family immigrated to Canada where Philomena’s parents taught children and adults. In 1974 they moved to Greensboro, North Carolina where they taught Irish dance to the Greensboro Folk Dancers. In 1987 Philomena moved to Augusta, Georgia where she joined her parents as a teacher for the Augusta Irish Dancers. In 1989 Philomena officially took over as Dance Director. Her primary dance responsibilities are the choreographer and figures instructor.
ACCREDITATION- The Antrim Academy is the only Irish dance school in the CSRA that is accredited by An Coimsiun Le Rinci Gaelacha (World Irish Dance Commission, Dublin, Ireland), Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America, and the Southern Region Irish Dance Teachers Association. This accreditation promises students are taught by a trained, qualified and certified teacher. It also allows the dancer opportunity to compete at feisanna (competitions) around the world.