The 2025 CLRG World Irish Dancing Championships took place in Dublin in April, showcasing the talent of over 4000 competitors from around the globe.
Representing the top 1% of Irish dancers, these participants competed in more than 50 separate competitions. With 26 countries represented, the championships are often referred to as the “Olympics” of Irish Dance, featuring rotating panels of five adjudicators to ensure fair and thorough evaluations in each round.
Among the competitors were six talented dancers from the McWilliams Academy of Dance, proudly representing Gqeberha and South Africa. They are Kate Erlank (10), Alison Rennie (12), Shanna du Plessis (17), Megan Walker (18), Mia Jonker (18) and Em Wedderburn (19).
Jennifer McWilliams, the academy’s teacher, expressed her pride in the dancers’ achievements: “World 2025 in Dublin was an incredible experience for our dancers, where they competed against the best dancers from around the world in single age groups. Our six dancers all shone on the stage, finishing with commendable results.”
A standout performance came from Shanna du Plessis, who made it to the final round in her age group (ladies’ 17-18). She finished 46th. This achievement marks the highest ever placing for a female South African dancer at the World Championships.
Additionally, Megan Walker continued her impressive streak by winning the Aisling Award (ladies’ 18-19) for the highest-placed dancer from a developing country in her age group. This marks the third time Walker has brought this award home.
“It was wonderful to see all the long hours of hard work rewarded at this prestigious event,” McWilliams added, highlighting the commitment and passion that these young dancers bring to their craft.
