The O'Gara School of Irish Dance, located in Reading and Didcot, is a renowned dance school and recreational activities organisation for youths in the area. The school was established in January 2006 by Viv O'Gara, who passed her TCRG exam. Within just two years, the school grew to over 100 pupils, prompting Viv to teach full time. In 2013, Claire Saxon also passed her TCRG and joined the teaching team.
Due to the school's continued growth, Viv decided to approach Kathleen Maguire from the prestigious Maguire O'Shea Academy in January 2016 to discuss a merge. This merge has brought a wealth of world-class resources to the O'Gara School, allowing them to meet the ever-increasing demand for Irish dancing classes. The school's aim is to teach as many children as possible the wonderful art of Irish dancing, while ensuring they have fun and keeping costs to a minimum.
The O'Gara School of Irish Dance is registered with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, the worldwide governing body for Irish dancing. This ensures that the school adheres to high standards and provides top-quality instruction. The school offers a range of lessons and classes for dancers of all ages and skill levels. The classes are taught by Viv O'Gara, Claire Saxon, and other experienced teachers.
Viv O'Gara, the founder of the school, fell in love with Irish dancing as a child but had to give it up due to financial constraints. However, her passion for the artform led her to join an adult Irish dance class in Reading when she was 30. Eventually, she took over the children's classes and discovered her passion for teaching. She earned her TCRG in 2005 and has since made Irish dancing her full-time occupation.
Claire Saxon, who joined the school in 2013, also fell in love with Irish dancing as a hobby. Her dedication and passion led her to pursue her TCRG, which she passed on the first attempt. She now teaches alongside Viv at the O'Gara School.
The school is also fortunate to have Katie Maguire McMorrow on their teaching team. Katie comes from a family with a deep-rooted passion for Irish dancing. Her mother, Kathleen Maguire, is a three-time world champion and remains an important part of the school. Katie herself achieved remarkable success, placing in the top three in every major championship and winning the North American championships twice.
She performed in Riverdance for over ten years and became one of the youngest teachers to pass her adjudication exam with An Commission.
Furthermore, Ellie Maguire, a distinguished Irish dancing legend, is also a part of the team. Holding two world records for Irish Dancing, Ellie adds more expertise and experience to the school.
At the O'Gara School of Irish Dance, they believe in nurturing a love for Irish dancing while providing a supportive and encouraging environment. Through their dedicated team of teachers and their affiliation with the Maguire O'Shea Academy, they aim to inspire and empower young dancers to achieve their full potential while enjoying the art of Irish dancing.