Kildare man's dance school wins world titles
Rachel Doyle, Kevin Lyster & Evelyn Page
Rathangan native Kevin Lyster's Emerald Lakes Academy of Irish Dance & TTC Group and its troupe of 31 dancers have taken the WIDA World Irish Dance Championships by storm in Liege, Belgium after another showdown between 24 participating countries at the WIDA World Irish Dance Championships 2025 in Belgium.
The Westmeath-based dance troupe features dancers from Kildare and the Lake County took a record 15 World Globes across multiple solo and team competitions.
Kevin established the school in 2009 and with his team of Elaine Long, Marilyn Loran and student training teachers Ciara Doyle & Rachel Doyle, ensured that the Kildare & Westmeath dancers would be at peak performance for the intense championships.
Kevin is a proud former pupil of Carmel Somers of Rathangan and attributes his success to Carmel.
The team of 31 Emerald Lakes representatives for Worlds 2025 were Alba Trigo Lyster, Leila Trigo Lyster, Blaithin Stenson, Zofia Bielicka, Diana Cornila, Diana Wakefield, Clodagh Wakefield, Eimear Wakefield, Brianna Fitzgerald, Katie Martin, Holly Martin, Ciara Doyle, Rachel Doyle, Robyn Dagg, Amy Dagg, Emma Pierce, Amelia Palmer, Cailin Sheridan, Aoife Quinn, Holly Walshe, Sophie Haugh, Kayleigh Strickland, Amy Devaney, Ella Long, Romy Sheahan, Molly Maher, Aishling Burke, Gwen Maguire, Martin Scully, Evelyn Page & Neabhae McDermott who all performed across multiple solo and team disciplines.
