Our Family Story
Patsy Early, born in Birmingham, England to the late James, from County Leitrim and the late Margaret, from County Mayo, is the oldest of the three Early children, followed by Jimmy and Karen. The family moved to New York, and from an early age, all three children were encouraged to take Irish music lessons and learn Irish Dancing from Peter Smith, activities they have all cultivated in their own families.
Jimmy Early, TCRG, ADCRG, an All-Ireland Piano accordion champion is married to Geraldine Conway. Their daughter, Mairead, was a champion dancer and musician who now has her TCRG and teaches with the school.
Karen Early Conway, TCRG with McLoughlin, is an accomplished feis musician. She and her husband, the late Chris Conway, two sons, Christopher (and his wife Stefanie) and Brendan (and his fiance Sarah) continue to carry on the tradition of playing Irish music.
In 1969, Patsy married Chris McLoughlin, a Belfast native and talented, well-known Irish singer who has served as both emcee and performer at many dances and shows. Chris and Patsy are the parents of three children, all of whom were accomplished dancers and musicians. Deirdre, TCRG taught classes in Kansas before relocating to San Francisco where she and her wife, Liz, are raising their children Kathleen and James, both of whom are champion-level Irish dancers themselves. Deirdre, a Physical Therapist previously coached the NCAA Cal Berkeley Women’s Crew Team and now has her own practice and is one of the PT’s for the Men’s Olympic Rowing Team. Their son, Chris, is a well-known feis musician throughout North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and their late daughter, Roisin, was a gifted flute and tin whistle player. Patsy and husband Chris are also the proud grandparents of Jay and Christopher Xavier.
The family’s backdrop has always been Irish Dancing, from those Inwood roots, across so many New York neighborhoods, and eventually to New Jersey, the class continued to grow. Patsy built one of the area’s premier schools, with multiple regional champions, national champions (including her daughter Deirdre) and the first American senior ladies world champion (Theresa O’Sullivan Randall) in solo dancing as well as countless ceili, figure and dance drama titles at local and national levels.
“To me, what has always been the biggest part of our dancing school has been the friendships that you make, not the number of prizes you won,” Patsy said. “That was the best gift my parents could ever have given me, the gift of Irish dancing. And not only as a career, but for everything it’s given me, all the places I’ve been, England, Scotland, Ireland and all over the country.”
Jimmy Early, TCRG, ADCRG, an All-Ireland Piano accordion champion is married to Geraldine Conway. Their daughter, Mairead, was a champion dancer and musician who now has her TCRG and teaches with the school.
Karen Early Conway, TCRG with McLoughlin, is an accomplished feis musician. She and her husband, the late Chris Conway, two sons, Christopher (and his wife Stefanie) and Brendan (and his fiance Sarah) continue to carry on the tradition of playing Irish music.
In 1969, Patsy married Chris McLoughlin, a Belfast native and talented, well-known Irish singer who has served as both emcee and performer at many dances and shows. Chris and Patsy are the parents of three children, all of whom were accomplished dancers and musicians. Deirdre, TCRG taught classes in Kansas before relocating to San Francisco where she and her wife, Liz, are raising their children Kathleen and James, both of whom are champion-level Irish dancers themselves. Deirdre, a Physical Therapist previously coached the NCAA Cal Berkeley Women’s Crew Team and now has her own practice and is one of the PT’s for the Men’s Olympic Rowing Team. Their son, Chris, is a well-known feis musician throughout North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and their late daughter, Roisin, was a gifted flute and tin whistle player. Patsy and husband Chris are also the proud grandparents of Jay and Christopher Xavier.
The family’s backdrop has always been Irish Dancing, from those Inwood roots, across so many New York neighborhoods, and eventually to New Jersey, the class continued to grow. Patsy built one of the area’s premier schools, with multiple regional champions, national champions (including her daughter Deirdre) and the first American senior ladies world champion (Theresa O’Sullivan Randall) in solo dancing as well as countless ceili, figure and dance drama titles at local and national levels.
“To me, what has always been the biggest part of our dancing school has been the friendships that you make, not the number of prizes you won,” Patsy said. “That was the best gift my parents could ever have given me, the gift of Irish dancing. And not only as a career, but for everything it’s given me, all the places I’ve been, England, Scotland, Ireland and all over the country.”
|
|
|
|
