Legendary Derry Irish dancing teacher Lilian O’Moore honoured at Derry Feis

On May 23, 2026, Derry's inimitable and irrepressible Lilian O’Moore will reach her 100th Birthday.

On Friday evening past, Feis Dhoire Cholmcille committee members proudly and warmly welcomed Lilian to the city's St Columb’s Hall, home of the iconic art event’s senior Irish dancing competitions.

Lilian was greeted with a rapturous applause and standing ovation from the assembled Irish dancing community and friends when she entered the Main Hall of the beautiful building.

The reception was held  to “honour Lilian in recognition of her immense contribution to Irish Dancing and Derry Feis”.

Lilian O'Moore with the Feis Dhoire Cholmcille Committee.

As she made her way along a guard of honour of costumed Irish dancers, towards a specially assembled platform, everyone present burst into a spontaneous rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’. 

Lilian was joined on the platform by Eileen Depot, President of An Comhdháil, Brendan O’Brien, one of the most senior figures in An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, and the Derry Feis Committee.

Taking the microphone, a clearly delighted Lilian declared: “Derry is wonderful. Derry People are wonderful and Derry Feis still remains one of the best run events anywhere.”

It is remarkable to think, when Feis Dhoire Cholmcille was just four years old in 1936, Lilian made her entry into the world.

It was just a short number of years after this point she began her love affair with the art of Irish dancing, and indeed Derry Feis.

Derry Feis wanted to acknowledge and celebrate Lilian’s amazing upcoming birthday and to offer its “sincere thanks not only for her lifelong dedication to Irish dancing and the Irish arts in general, but for her love for and commitment to Feis Dhoire Cholmcille throughout her life”.

In honour of her centenary celebrations, a new tiara in Lilian’s name will be presented from this year on to the winner of the Senior Ladies Dancing Championship. 

When Lilian was interviewed in 2022 for ‘Feis Dhoire Cholmcille: Celebrating a Century of Culture, she told the book’s author, Eamon Sweeney she started dancing at the age of seven with Miss Nellie Sweeney.

“To me Miss Sweeney was the mother of Irish dancing in Derry,” recalled Lilian. “Then I left and went to Mr Brendan de Glinn when he started teaching.

“The big event of the year was Derry Feis. It was a week of music, song and dance. Everyone thought it was a great week. The household chores were left behind, and the parents bought season tickets and took their children to the Feis. 

“And, with Derry being such a city of talent, there were children there from the age of six and not only were they able to compete in dancing, but verse speaking and singing as well, and the mothers just loved every moment of it. 

“During the week, they would take the children down to the Rainbow Café and the Leprechaun and down to Fiorentini’s for ice cream,” said Lilian.

While dancing was first and foremost her greatest interest, there were occasions when Lilian ventured into other Feis disciplines. 

In the early 1830s, whilst a pupil at St Eugene’s Primary School she humorously recalled taking part in an action song where her dancing skills were put to good use.

“I was about eight and our teacher was Miss Dora Logue. A girl in the class was able to play the violin, so they decided to let her take part in the action song, and we danced,” reminisced Lilian.

“Unfortunately she went off tune with the piano and we did not know whether to dance with the violin or the piano. There were four schools in for the competition and I’ll always remember that we got fourth. We were very disappointed,” said Lilian.

As the years and indeed the decades progressed, Lilian of course became a stalwart of not only Irish dancing but of Derry Feis and spent time as an officer of the institution.

She said: “I was on the Feis Committee too and there were some lovely ladies on it like Sibeal Sharkey, who was a great friend of mine and who gave me great advice, and now her daughter, Ursula is the Feis chairperson.”

As a teacher, Lilian produced Derry, Ulster, All Ireland and World Championship winners at solo and team levels and many of her former pupils ensured her legacy by becoming teachers themselves.

“My late husband, Brendan, used to say, ‘Did you teach half of Derry?’ smiled Lilian.

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Hundreds of young people have been taking part in the annual event over the last few days

“I also taught in Fanad. I went there by bus because I failed my driving test. I left Derry at nine o’clock and I didn’t get to Fanad until 12 because they stopped at shops everywhere along the way to deliver papers. I could be in America quicker. 

“I also taught in Milford and Rathmullan, in Dungannon, in Feeny and Dungiven, all the time carrying a big tape recorder. Now the children have iPads, and the music is on their phones. That is a real change, but it's mostly for the best because Irish dance is now famous all over the world.

“Derry was and still is, the city of talent and we should be very proud. I am sure other places are very envious of us. The Feis has given a lot to Derry in terms of culture. 

“Derry Feis was very prestigious and to me it was the highlight of the year. There was a great friendliness and atmosphere about it,” said Lilian.

Speaking to The Derry News, Ursula Clifford, chairperson of Feis Dhoire Cholmcille said simply: “Lilian, go raibh maith agat”.

“Lilian will be 100 years old in May. She was one of the main dancing teachers in this city for more than 70 years,” explained Ursula, “and felt we, as the Feis, should honour her.

“With great persuasion, I got her to come to tonight’s Irish dancing session, where all of the Irish dancing teachers from the city will welcome her, sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and present her with gifts,” beamed Ursula.