Health & Fitness
Horgan Academy Irish Breakfast Tea Held on St. Patrick's Day
Irish dancing is a great way to begin one's St. Patrick's Day in Naugatuck.
The Horgan Academy of Irish Dance held its annual Irish Breakfast Tea at the Maura Gill Horgan Irish Center located on Meadow Street in Naugatuck. The students had gotten up very early in order to appear on WATR 1320 radio beginning at 6:30 am.
Morning drive host and community theatre veteran Tom Chute broadcasted live from the dance studio as he has for the past 11 years. I stopped by the open house last year and knew that it was a great way to kick off my St. Patrick's Day. Mr. Chute spoke with co-directors Maureen and Irene Horgan on the air, as Irish music and the sounds of dancing feet could be heard in the background. The remote interviews of the directors of the school and other celebrities that began their St. Patrick's Day with Irish dancing were mixed in with Irish music.
Meanwhile, NBC 30 and WFSB sent videographers to film the dancers in action. In between the performances the students and the guest seated at tables enjoyed tea, green bagels, soda bread and dark brown Irish bread.
Mr. Chute kindly mentioned my name on the air and introduced me to the Horgan sisters. Maureen Horgan told me that after the broadcast ended at 9:30am, the students were headed to St. Francis Church to help them celebrate the holiday. Click here to view a Rep-Am video of the the ceremony.
After that, they planned to brighten the St. Patrick's day of some senior citizens. Ms. Horgan also said that the St. Patrick's Eve Extravaganza that was presented at Woodland High School in Beacon Falls to celebrate the Horgan Academy's 30th anniversary was a big success. The motto of the school that was founded by the mother of the two Horgan sisters is "Training Tomorrow's Riverdancers Today."
The beautiful Irene Horgan graciously welcomed all the guests to the tea that is intended as a way to give back to their community. She told me that the detailed dress that she danced in came from Ireland.
Some of the champion Irish dancers appeared with the co-directors on WTNH. Click here to view the video.
