The Irish Dance Globe was created for Irish dancers and lovers of all things Irish dance. Founder Colleen Falco saw the need for a dancer-run platform and connected with the friends she’s made across her 20 years of dancing to start The Irish Dance Globe. We welcome dancers of all ages from all organisations looking for interviews, news, advice and resources. This site is run by active competitive dancers with an aim to lift each other up, celebrate our community, and enjoy a shared love of Irish dance.
founder & creative director
Colleen Falco is The Irish Dance Globe’s Founder and Creative Director. The COO of a public relations firm in Orlando, Florida, she’s also a multiple-time world recaller and has toured with Rhythm In The Night: The Irish Dance Spectacular. She is a dress designer, a professional artist, a lyra teacher, and performer.
editor - in - chief
Hollie Geraghty is the Editor-In-Chief of The Irish Dance Globe. She is a London-based music and culture journalist with articles in Rolling Stone UK, The Guardian, NME, HuffPost UK, Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit, and more. Her previous interviewees include the likes of Katy Perry, Stormzy, and Ellie Goulding. As well as being a University of Southampton history graduate, she holds a gold-standard NCTJ journalism diploma from News Associates. She is an Irish dancer of 20 years and a multiple time World qualifier who has competed in both An Chomhdhàil and CLRG.
Editorial Assistant
Caitlin Clarke holds a BA and MA in International Relations and Politics from University College Dublin. She has spent over two decades training as an Irish dancer, most recently competing with Scoil Rince Mona Ni Rodaigh where she placed in every international competition and won the CLRG World Championships with her ceili team. She has also trained under the tutelage of Jean Butler in contemporary Irish dance. Additionally, Caitlin is a professional Irish dancer who has performed on television and in shows around the world. In her free time, she enjoys progressing her bodhran skills and expressing her creativity through painting pop art-style still lifes.
writer
Siobhan Cooney is a contributing writer at The Irish Dance Globe. She is an assistant director of content strategy at Georgetown University and holds a B.A. in English and communication studies from Rollins College. An Irish dancer for over 20 years, Siobhan is a multiple-time national qualifier and has completed all the CLRG grade exams. Her passion for storytelling spans performance and writing, and she takes pride in sharing her love for Irish dance with others through both art forms.
columist
Diana Dersch is a chief domestic engineer, wife, and mom of two girls. An Irish dancer for more than 23 years, she is a multiple-time World qualifier, two-time World medal holder, two-time World recall medalist, and has received numerous top 10 and top 5 finishes at the regional Oireachtas, Nationals, All Irelands, and the Great Britain Championships. She received The Diploma of the Irish Dancing Commission in 2017 and has facilitated an accountability group for competitive senior ladies since 2019.
Writer
Käri Barile has achieved top five placings at multiple major competitions such as the US National Championships, Western US Regional Oireachtas, and the Great Britain Championships, having also toured professionally with Christmas in Killarney. She graduated from Western Washington University in psychology and is a mental health advocate, having worked with many organisations to promote mental wellbeing throughout her community. Kari is also an ambassador for Target Training Dance, and is passionate about dancing, writing, reading, and travelling.
Writer
Writer
Hayden Moon is an out and proud 26-year-old queer, legally blind, transmasculine person. He is a PhD candidate in theatre and performance studies at the University of Sydney, a Pinnacle Foundation scholar and a competitive Irish dancer. In 2018 he became the first transgender person to compete in an Australian Irish dancing competition after advocating for a policy change. In his spare time, he advocates for the LGBTQIA+, disabled and first nations communities through his roles in various activist collectives.
Writer
Jen Clark is a radio news anchor, wife and mom of a teenage boy on the autism spectrum. She’s been Irish dancing for more than twenty years and has competed at the local, regional and national levels in the adult championships for CLRG. She’s half-finished with her grade exams and has her sights set on getting her TCRG. In her spare time, she likes to swim, go to music festivals, and hike in the mountains. She’s more than excited to be part of The Irish Dance Globe team.
