Teachers

Lena McGinley, ADCRN

Owner & Director | McGinley School of Irish Dance

Lena McGinley was born in Ireland and spent her early childhood in Carrick-on-Shannon before moving with her family to the United States in 1982. She began Irish dancing at the age of seven under the direction of Donny Golden in Mineola, New York, performing and competing with the Golden School of Irish Dancing through the age of sixteen.

At fifteen, Lena had the opportunity to perform at Radio City Music Hall alongside her two sisters and 100 champion Irish dancers in Frank Patterson’s A Great Night for the Irish. By the time she left New York, Lena was competing at the Preliminary Championship level with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha.

Lena earned her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education/Mathematics from Bloomsburg University in 1999 and her Master of Education in Administration from Temple University in 2004. She taught secondary mathematics in the West Shore School District for seven years before devoting herself fully to Irish dance education.

In January 2000, Lena founded The Ceili Dancers with just six original members. What began as a small group would grow into the McGinley School of Irish Dance, which has now proudly served hundreds of dancers throughout Central Pennsylvania for more than 25 years.

Lena is a fully qualified Irish dance teacher (ODCRN) and adjudicator (ADCRN) with Cumann Rince Náisiúnta (CRN), Dublin, Ireland. She earned her teaching qualification in June 2007 and her adjudicator qualification in October 2013.

In 2022, Lena was appointed by CRN’s Panel of Examiners to serve as a Teacher Trainer in the United States, helping to educate and prepare the next generation of qualified Irish dance teachers. Her service to CRN has also included membership on the Executive Committee, as well as the North American Open, Irish Open, and World Open Championship Committees.

For more than 25 years, Lena has remained committed to providing dancers with exceptional Irish dance training while creating an environment centered on tradition, excellence, performance, friendship, and community. Under her direction, McGinley dancers have competed and performed locally, nationally, and internationally while developing a lifelong appreciation for Irish dance and culture.

Contact Lena.

Annie McGinley, ODCRN

Teacher | McGinley School of Irish Dance

Annie McGinley, the youngest of the three McGinley sisters, joined the McGinley School of Irish Dance in December 2006. Born in Mineola, New York, Annie began Irish dancing at the age of five under the direction of Donny Golden. After her family relocated to Pennsylvania, she continued her training under Maureen O’Grady in Bethlehem.

Throughout her early dance career, Annie performed on some of the country’s most iconic stages, including Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall, and competed through the Preliminary Championship level with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha.

After joining the McGinley School, Annie returned to competitive Irish dance with Cumann Rince Náisiúnta (CRN). At the 2010 Irish Open Championships, she won the Over 21 Ardghrád competition, earning her status as a Craobhghrád (Champion) dancer. During her competitive career, Annie placed as high as 3rd at the Irish Open Championships and 3rd at the World Open Championships. She was also a three-time North American Open Champion before retiring from competitive dancing in 2018.

Annie earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management, with a focus in Music Management, from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, in December 2006. She is also a fully qualified Irish dance teacher (ODCRN) with Cumann Rince Náisiúnta, Dublin, Ireland, having earned her teaching qualification in June 2010.

Annie brings extensive experience in theatre, performance, choreography, and creative production to the McGinley School. Together with Lena, she has co-produced three full-scale theatre productions as well as numerous dance dramas, freestyles, and original performance pieces.

Since joining the school, Annie has played an integral role in the training and development of McGinley dancers—from their first Irish dance steps through championship-level competition. Her creativity, performance experience, and dedication to her dancers continue to be an important part of the McGinley School of Irish Dance tradition.

Contact Annie.

Original costume design and logo artwork was created by Danielle McGinley.