Ciara Dunne (Dancer)

Ciara Dunne has danced with The Booley House since it's commencement in 1993. This makes her the longest running member of the original dance cast, and she continues to be a leading figure in the show's Irish dance routines. Alongside Tom Hyland, they produce the sets and brush-dancing routines which have always been a famous part of the show.

Apart from touring with The Booley House, she has also toured with other well-known groups such as Danú, North Cregg, Ceolta Sí, Celtic Legends and The Butterfly Band, which has brought her to numerous festivals and far-flung destinations such as India, Dubai, Canada, New York, Turkey and extensively on the European circuit. This has also included the honour of joining Irish trade missions with An Taoiseach and official dignitaries as a representative of Irish culture. Numerous media appearances over the years include 'Geantraí', 'Danú san Ind', 'Ear to the Ground', and has featured on CD's 'The Clare Shout' by Bobby Gardiner, 'The Natural Brew' and 'The Booley House Volumes 1 and 2',

Ciara originally learned to set-dance from Tom Hyland and to Irish dance from Mary Costin at the age of 4 before transferring to Michael Ryan as a teenager, and so began teaching dancing at the Ballinvella branch at the age of just 16. The beginner students she taught at this time have gone on to become the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil winning set in Under-18 category in 2008. Citing influence from famous dancers such as Joe Neachtain, Aidan Vaughan, and Peter Hanrahan, she has continued to teach both set and Irish dancing in the Ballyduff classes to this date, and is a very well respected teacher in Munster. Read more about Ballyduff music and dance classes.