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For a full biography of Éamon de Valera, please refer to the Dictionary of Irish Biography, https://www.dib.ie/biography/de-valera-eamon-dev-a2472.
James Devine was born in Ireland and began to take dance lessons at the age of eight. At the age of fourteen he became the only Irishman to have won the World, American, British, and All-Ireland Irish dancing titles in the same year. In 1996, Devine was selected by Michael Flatley to star in his Lord of the Dance show and spent two years performing in the show’s global tour. Between 1998 and 2000, Devine lived in Australia where he choreographed, directed, and performed the lead role in the dance show GaelForce, which toured worldwide. Since 2001, Devine has lived predominantly in America where he has taught Irish dancing to thousands of enthusiasts. In February 2005, he began work on a new solo project, Tapeire, which premiered the following year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to critical acclaim. The show’s success inspired Devine to found his own production entity, Devine Dance Company, and to bring Tapeire on tour in America and Canada. Devine is widely respected as a leader in the world of percussive dance and holds the world record for fastest tap-dancing speed.
Marguerite Donlon was born in 1966 in County Longford. Her early life was influenced by traditional Irish dance, and she did not begin her ballet studies until the age of 16. She received her training from Anica Dawson and Dorothy Stevens, and was a member of the English National Ballet under Peter Schaufuss. In 1990, she became a solo dancer and choreographer with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. She has worked with many celebrated artists, including Natalia Makarova, Rudolf Nureyev and Sir Kenneth MacMillan. In 2001, Donlon became director of the ballet at the Saarländisches Staatstheater in Saarbrücken, Germany. Her resident company, Donlon Dance Company, is renowned for the highly technical and artistic level of its dancers. They have presented not only Donlon’s choreographies but those of prominent artists such as Ji?í Kylián, Christian Spuck, Helena Waldmann and Rafael Bonachela. Donlon’s artistic and innovative style, which combines different art forms and humour, has been recognised through several awards and nominations. Donlon resigned her directorship in 2013 and was awarded a Medal of Merit for her outstanding work as ballet director and her contributions to the world of dance. Since 2014, Donlon has brought her creativity and coaching skills to the world of business as a business coach and leadership mentor.
Edward Thomas Dore was a native of Glin, county Limerick. He joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood while a student at Rockwell College and fought in the 1916 Easter Rising. He was arrested and interned at Frongoch until the end of 1916 with many of the noted Irish freedom fighters of the time. In 1918, he married Commandant Edward ('Ned') Daly’s sister Nora (1889-1977) and later took over her family’s bakery business at William Street, Limerick. In 1931, he co-founded the Limerick Memorial Committee to fundraise for a monument on Sarsfield Bridge in Limerick city to honour those who died in the Easter Rising. The outbreak of the Second World War, the death of the sculptor and a shortage of funds stalled the project, and it was not until 27 May 1956 that the memorial was unveiled. Edward Dore died at his home in Limerick on 17 June 1972.
Patricia Durcan (née Cochrane) was born in Belfast and attended the Jim Johnson School of Dance in that city.
Russian ballet dancer and the first director of the Irish National Ballet School.
