From her earliest years in Irish Dance – starting in 1971 – Mary Foley sought to share her passion with the community. She wanted to establish the world’s finest Academy for motivating and educating. She imagined the perfect environment to combine her passion for teaching, physical fitness and Irish Dance.
Her life-long dream became a reality with the opening of Celtic Academy Canada, Year 1990 in the beautiful hills of Erin, Ontario. The enthusiasm for Celtic Academy was such that, within weeks a second location was opened in Guelph, Ontario. Combining the best of professionalism and passion with the best of tradition and innovation, Celtic Academy created a new era in Irish Dance standards.
Celtic Academy has truly been a labor of love. Since its inception, Mary has personally overseen the day-to-day administration of the Academy and nurtured its growth. The growth has been on an international level from the historic Village of Erin to the City of Guelph, across the Atlantic to Cobh and Youghal, County Cork and the return to Ontario. Celtic Academy has opened doors for many students and communities. We currently operate 14 locations throughout the Province of Ontario. Our Alumni assist us with teaching in various locations and we are honoured to have them an integral part of educating the next generation of Irish Dancers. We have evolved and continue to make progress in all our programs sharing our love of dance. We perform at local events, festivals and fundraisers throughout the year.
We trust that you will be inspired by the Academy’s history and heritage and by our students achievements. The preservation and promotion of Irish culture is the solid foundation upon which our values are based and our vision is built. Where ingenuity meets the marketplace, and great ideas reach their full potential.
Join Celtic Academy Irish Dance Canada and embrace every moment!
