Clydebank girl, 9, wins fourth Irish dancing title

Tegan Connolly, nine, from Whitecrook has become an international champion after taking part in competitions across Europe.

Her most recent title, won last week, was the All-Ireland championship for under-nines hosted by the World Irish Dancing Association (WIDA) resulting in her taking four titles in just nine months.

In October last year, Tegan won the Scottish Open championship and British Open championship in the under-eights category.

Tegan at the All Ireland Championship (Image: Supplied)Tegan's sashes and medals from her competitions (Image: Supplied) Attending practice up to four times a week, Tegan started Irish dancing at just two years old.

Her competitions have taken her to Bedford, Donegal, Belgium and Glasgow for competitions.

Tegan's mum Stephanie says she "could not be any more proud" as her whole family turned out in Belgium to see her win the international champion in April.

She said: "It’s an amazing achievement and she’s the first in her dance school to win all the titles consecutively.

"The resilience she has for being a nine-year-old is incredible. She is so graceful and just a wee natural. Me and her dad are in awe of her, she is a mini-professional.

"All her family came to see her win the world title. It's just been amazing.

"She goes to class three to four times a week and has such a passion for it. Her teacher is like her role model, everything in her life revolves around Irish dancing.

"We are all so proud of her."

Tegan with her dance teacher Alana (Image: Supplied) Tegan's dance teacher, Alana Mclaughlin, describes her as a "natural from the beginning" after starting with the Alana Rose Irish Dance Company seven years ago.

She added: "She came into Irish dancing and she has taken to it like a duck to water.

"She works really, really hard and I can tell she is going home from practice and still working on things. 

"Tegan is very dedicated for being such a young girl, she has such a passion for Irish dancing.

"I started the class for adult fitness. A few months into it I said I would start teaching kids thinking it’ll be the odd wee competition. So to have someone win those four titles is incredible."

Tegan's mum will be throwing a double party in September to celebrate her and her teacher Nathan McRae who also won a championship.