MARY MORAN

Mary Moran, TCRG (Certified Teacher if Irish Dance) is a first generation Irish American born in Chicago , Illinois . Mary was trained by Pat Roche, TCRG, often referred to as the father of Irish Dance in North America , and his daughter, Peggy Roche-Boyle, ADCRG (certified teacher and judge of Irish dance). Mary became a Champion level Irish Dancer.

The fourth of seven children, Mary began her career performing with her family's Irish show band, Mary learned to play bagpipes, Irish harp, piano, clarinet, guitar, the tin whistle and showed a special affiliation for Irish dance.

Frequent visits to Ireland kept Mary close to authentic Celtic arts, and as a teenager, the seasoned performer represented Chicago in the international Irish Heritage Rose of Tralee pageant.

Mary is a graduate of Northwestern University College of communications where she majored in theatre and music. She moved to Nashville in 1988 to pursue an entertainment career and established the Nashville Irish Step Dancers in 1990, the First Irish Dance School in Middle Tennessee.

Mary has developed many Regional and National Solo and team Champions. Her dancers have competed at the Regional, National and World level and represented NISD at the All-Ireland and British National Championships.

She has also enjoyed using her skill to develop winning teams and produce our annual Irish Dance extravaganza “Celtic Rhythms On Fire”. Mary was honored to Choreograph the video to “The Prayer Anthem” for Christian artist, Carmen. She travelled to Ireland to teach and perform both traditional and progressive Irish dance on this video. She also choreographed the dance sequence in Country artist Colin Rays Video, ”The Angel song”

Mary Moran is married to Errol Mooney and is the proud mother of two girls, Megan Mooney, the 2007 and 2008 U8, and 2009 U9 Southern Region Champion, and her up and coming Irish dancing sister, 5 year old Shannon.