Gilleoghan Irish Dance

Philip Owens, ADCRG, was a champion Irish Dancer who started dancing at age of five in Dublin, Ireland. He was a member of the traditional Irish group that performed at the Braemor Rooms in Dublin and toured with the group throughout Ireland and England before spending a year performing as the resident traditional group at The Inverurie Hotel in Bermuda. He received his teaching diploma in 1980 and continued on to receive his A.D.C.R.G. certification to adjudicate Irish dancing. He was one of the first grade examiners of An Coimisiun. Philip is a fluent Gaelic speaker who has taught at many Irish language schools throughout the Dublin area. Prior to moving to the US, he taught at the renowned Naomh Padraig School in Dublin which has produced many All Ireland, North American, Great Britain and World Champions. He has continued building on that success here in the United States with many Regional and National winners. Philip is a well respected member of An Coimisiun (Irish Dance Commission) and is the current Chairman of the Rules Committee. He is also a member of Conradh na Gaeilge (Gaelic League).

Terry Gillan, ADCRG, started dancing at the age of six in Glasgow, Scotland under the instruction of top teacher Myrna Kennedy and enjoyed great success as a dancer. He received his teaching diploma in Dublin in 1979 and also successfully received his adjudicator's diploma. He is a grade examiner with An Coimisiun, one of the first in North America and is a Vice President of An Coimisiun. He has adjudicated at many competitions, inlcuding the All-Ireland, World, North American and Australian National Championships. He started a successful teaching career in Scotland prior to moving to Dublin where he continued to enjoy great success on an international level while teaching with the Naomh Padraig School. He is the Regional Director of the New England Region and is the Oireachtas Chairperson for An Coimisiun. Terry was one of the leading organizers of the World Championships in Philadelphia and the main organizer of the last two World Championships in Glasgow and Dublin. He will also be the leading organizer of the World Championships which will take place in Boston in 2013. Terry worked last year as one of the coordinators for the Irish dance Commission for the recently released JIG – the movie and in fact stars in it also. He is one of the teachers of the 2010 Boys Under 15 World Champion.

Catie Thorne, TCRG, started her Irish dancing career in Danbury, CT at the age of five.

In the late 1990's she was introduced to the teaching talents of Philip Owens and Terry Gillian and from there the rest is history.

She placed in the top 10 in all 10 New England Regional Championships, placing as high as 2nd, qualifying for the worlds 5 times. She competed in many North American, All-Ireland and World Championships for solos as well as teams.

Under the training of Philip and Terry, she earned her TCRG in 2011 on the first attempt.

Catie is a 2010 graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in Geoscience and is currently working full time in Danbury. Catie is excited to join Terry and Philip and the entire Gilleoghan family and looks forward to sharing her love of Irish culture and dance throughout the world.