Kevinah Dargan has achieved what many  Irish dancers
only dream of. In 2005, the sixth grader won the World
Championship in the 10-11 year-old category. Not only
that but Kevinah is also a three time North American
Champion, two time Mid-Atlantic Champion and she
placed third at the 2005 All-Ireland Dance
Championships.
Perhaps it is her family's strong heritage that has
supplied Kevinah with a natural talent for dance. Born
in March of 1997 in Williamsville, New York, both of
Kevinah's parents boast direct Irish lineage. Her
father, Kevin was born in Derry and raised in Dublin.
Her mother, Tracy's, parents are also from Dublin.
Kevinah began taking lessons at the age of four from
Mary Kay Heneghan at the Rince Na Tiarna School of
Irish Dance.
It is her experience at Rince Na Tiarna that has
resulted in Kevinah's development as a dancer. Mary
Kay Heneghan, Kevinah's teacher, has been instrumental
in the refinement of her skills. Heneghan established
Rince Na Tiarna, Gaelic for "Lord of the Dance" in
1986. Heneghan was herself born of Irish parents. Her
father Thomas hails from Kilmaine, County Mayo and her
mother, Mary Breen Heneghan's family is from Kilmihil,
County Clare. A native of Buffalo, New York, Mary Kay
has watched her school expand to various New York
locations. Mary Kay has also taught for the Trinity
Dance Academy in Chicago.
As for Kevinah, her talents extend beyond Irish dance.
She is an honor student at Mill Middle School in
Williamsville, New York. She plays the violin in her
school orchestra, and finds time to participate in
student council as well as intramural sports. She is
also involved in her community as a member of Saints
Peter and Paul Church where she is an altar server.
"The thing I love about dancing is working hard and
reaching new goals, meeting new friends and
traveling," Kevinah has said of her dance experience.
Her achievements have already inspired her younger
sister, Fiona who recently placed second at the North
American Nationals and first at the Mid-Atlantic
Oireachtas. Despite her success, Kevinah remains down
to earth, hard working and a real team player. -BE

 Mary Kay and Kevinah were honored along with other Irish-American luminaries, such as George Clooney, Patrick Dempsey, Matt Dillon, Denis Leary, New England
Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady,ABC Nightline's Cynthia McFadden and Terry Moran.  NBC's White House Correspondent Kelly O'Donnell Fox News Analyst Greg Kelly and author, Frank McCourt,
 The Top 100 will be featured in the April/May
Issue (on newsstands end March) of Irish America
magazine, the leading Irish American publication in
the U.S.