WORLD ARTS WEST IS PROUD TO PRESENT

MARY JO MURPHY-FEENEY

WITH THE

MALONGA CASUELOURD
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD OF
ETHNIC DANCE AND MUSIC

Mary Jo Murphy-Feeney is the Founder of Murphy Irish Dancers. She began dancing at an early age. First picking up steps from her mother, Hannah O’Sullivan, at age four, she was further encouraged by Irish nuns at her grade school. Her first formal dance teacher, Annie Slattery, was an Irish immigrant, and upon Slattery’s retirement in 1963, Murphy-Feeney (then Mary Jo Murphy) started her own dance company.

Starting with thirty-five members, today the company boasts as many as 175 participants. Her daughter, Patricia Feeney-Conefrey, and grandchildren continue the family tradition, and there are numerous siblings in the company. Murphy-Feeney sees the learning and performing of Irish dance as a way for young people to connect to a rich tradition while building lasting friendships. Her dance school, with locations in San Francisco and the Peninsula, has worked with thousands of children and families spanning three generations. The students range in age from three to sixty-three years old. “My aim as a teacher is to develop self confidence; self esteem, keep up Irish culture, and have my dancers learn a difficult and intricate type of dance while having fun,” said Murphy-Feeney. “I love Irish dance—it has brought me great joy and many friendships throughout my life,” said Murphy-Feeney.

Over the years, she has taught thousands of children, and hundreds of her students have become regional and national champions. She has had teams and soloists who have qualified and placed in the World Irish Dancing Championships held in Ireland every year. (The Irish Dance Commission has just begun holding them outside of Ireland, they have been in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and just this past year in America for the first time.) Murphy-Feeney is respected nationally for her knowledge and experience of Irish culture, and has been a judge at the world dance championships and numerous national competitions throughout North America. She was the first western region teacher/adjudicator to be invited to judge the All Ireland and World Championships. The Murphy Irish Dancers have performed for Irish presidents and other dignitaries from around the world, and were chosen to perform for Pope John Paul II during his visit to San Francisco. The Irish Consul General, Jerry Staunton, and members of the Irish community participated in a tribute to Murphy-Feeney on May 31st, where Cheryl Jennings of ABC/Channel 7 presented her with a San Francisco Proclamation from Mayor Gavin Newsom’s office announcing May 31, 2009, as Mary Jo Murphy-Feeney Day in San Francisco. The award will be presented by Diarmuid Philpott, president of the United Irish Society, at the June 6th Saturday night performance.