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the boyle sisters


the boyle sistersThe Boyle School of Irish Dance is owned and operated by Alannah Boyle Sweeney, ADCRG and Ellen Boyle Gibbons, ADCRG. Alannah and Ellen are the daughters of Irish immigrants. They grew up immersed in Irish culture, music, and dance. Trained in New York as dancers from the ages of four and five, they have won several medals in regional and national championship competitions throughout the United States and Canada, qualifying on multiple occasions for the World Championships in Ireland.

The Boyle sisters have performed with such Irish music greats as the Chieftains, Cherish the Ladies, Tommy Makem, Paddy Reilly, The Wolf Tones, 7 Nations, and Black 47, to name a few. They have made television appearances on both the Merv Griffin Show and in commercials and have been the headliners of Celtic festivals and events. Their choreographies have been performed throughout the D.C. Metropolitan area and some have been sold and performed by other professional dance companies.

The Boyle School of Irish Dance has delighted audiences throughout the entire DC Metro area as well as dancing on board the Carnival Miracle, Carnival Triumph, and the Carnival Freedom cruise ships. Boyle School has won "Best Irish Dancing School," "Best Performing Group" and "Best Dance School" in the Washington DC and Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day parades several years in a row and has performed at many prestigious events including a performance preview at Wolf Trap on the opening night of Riverdance, as headliners at the Key Largo Irish Fest, and Marco Island St. Patrick’s Day Festival, and an annual invitation to perform at the White House Christmas tree. More recently, Boyle School Dancers were asked to perform in Constitution Hall with the United States Air Force band, a halftime show with the Harlem Globetrotters at the Verizon Center and for the Headliners of Shamrock Fest at RFK stadium. Added to this have been performances during the Ireland Festival at the Kennedy Center, at Nationals Stadium for Irish Heritage Night and multiple features on ABC’s Good Morning Washington.

The Boyle School is a certified Irish Dancing School and a member of the An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha in Dublin, Ireland. Boyle School dancers have won the Southern Region Oireachtas, have qualified for the National and World Championships of Irish Dance, placed in the All-Ireland Championships, North American championships, and World Championships of Irish Dancing. Boyle School dancers have place in the top five in both the North American and World Championships of Irish Dance. The School holds classes in Alexandria, Chantilly & Manassas Virginia.


Elizabeth Doughty, TCRG

Elizabeth DoughtyElizabeth Doughty, TCRG, is a full-time teacher who is certified with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha. Elizabeth is an Open Championship Dancer who has been Irish Dancing since age seven and has medaled in multiple Regional and National Championship competitions. Elizabeth has qualified for the World Championships on two occasions, once for team dancing, and once for solo dancing. In 2011 she medaled in hard and soft shoe at the All-Ireland championships, placing 6th in the reel.







Katie Francis, TCRG

Katie Francis Katie Francis, TCRG, is a full-time teacher who is certified with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha. Katie has been dancing since age six. She has competed as an Open Championship dancer in many Regional and National Championships. Katie has also danced at the World Championships in figure and solo dancing, placing 28th in solos and receiving a recall medal. She has years of experience dancing competitively and in shows all over the Northern Virginia/DC area.








Samantha Scheetz, TCRG

Samantha Haas Samantha Scheetz, TCRG, is a full-time teacher who is certified with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha and an IT Director with the Boyle School. Samantha has been dancing with Boyle since age eight and is a Open-Championship dancer. She has competed and medaled in many Regional and National Championships. Samantha has also medaled at the All-Irelands Championships in 2012 and 2015 in soft shoe and hard shoe, and is a three-time World Championships qualifier. In 2015, she placed 3rd in the Regional Championships.