The O’Malley Irish Dance Academy Irish step dancers were nimble-toed Brooklyn legends long before Lady Gaga retweeted one of their jaunty jigs in September.
The human whirligigs — shimmying intricate steps at electrifying speed in embroidered costumes and loud shoes — perform all over the country, on TV, at Ellis Island and City Hall, and open for the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Nets, and the Mets. In between they dance for inner-city students on cultural days, put their best foot forward for seniors, veterans, and ailing children, and compete in local, national, and world competitions to promote and continue an ancient art form going back to the Druids but gaining new groupies, thanks to Riverdance and other Irish dance stage shows.
The charity work is sweeter than the bragging rights of having her dancers qualify for a world championship or win the top accolade in the North American nationals last year — among the Marine Park school’s many competitive triumphs — claims founding director Maureen O’Malley-Byrnes, 43, herself a former champion dancer who has performed at Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, and aboard the ships of Carnival Cruise Lines.
“Twenty years from now no one is going to remember who got what in a competition and the trophies will get thrown away, but they will never forget meeting an army hero or a little girl who lost both her limbs,” says the wife and mother of three school-age children. “It’s good for them to be reminded that they have two legs under them and they can go out and dance in a parade.”
The O’Malleys are in high demand, performing in more than 60 events a year — they were booked for 35 gigs in March alone, including four parades. They volunteer their time and talent to Locks of Love and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for cancer research, and they have raised $20,000 for the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. They also perform at individual benefits, shaking a leg this spring at the Wicked Monk for paralyzed Irish pre-schooler Roisin Tansey.
The steppers come prepared to spread joy.
The dancers brought gift bags filled with coloring books, crayons, and travel games when they performed at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Upstate New York, engaging excited patients in a lively Celtic group dance.
Five-time world qualifier Lisa Murphy — a former student who now teaches at the academy — was among the performers there that day.
“Just seeing the children smile when they were surrounded by so much unhappiness was worth it,” says Murphy. “Maureen goes out of her way for everyone, and she knows there is a lot more you can do with Irish dancing than just competitions and winning trophies.”
O’Malley-Byrnes confirmed as much by stepping to it when officials at Carnival Cruise Lines asked her dancers to perform during their school’s vacation cruise.
“Whatever talent you have should be out there for everyone to enjoy,” says the Woman of Distinction. “That’s how a community grows and flourishes.”
OCCUPATION: Director.
COMPANY: O’Malley Irish Dance Academy.
CLAIM TO FAME: Working hard to promote Irish culture in my community.
FAVORITE PLACE: Ireland.
WOMAN I ADMIRE: Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy because she embodied strength and dignity — gently.
MOTTO: If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters very much.
