Contributed by Katie Maguire McMorrow
Katie Maguire’s family story is rooted in the artistry and tradition of Irish dance, stretching from County Cavan to the heart of London. Her father, Michael Maguire, was born in Cavan Town. At just 15, he emigrated to England, finding work in pubs around Bethnal Green. Seven years later, and perhaps unexpectedly for a young Cavan man in London, Michael began to dance. Under the tutelage of Sheila Clerkin, he discovered a profound talent, eventually becoming a champion himself and later a teacher.
Katie’s mother, Kathleen O’Shea, was born in Tottenham to parents who had emigrated from Camp, County Kerry and Killdysart, County Clare. Remarkably, Kathleen rose to become a three-time World Champion Irish dancer, taught by Ted Kavanagh. This made her a notable figure in the London Irish dancing scene. Her parents, Katie’s maternal grandparents, settled on Greenfield Road in Tottenham.
Michael and Kathleen married and set down roots in Seven Kings, Ilford, where they established the Maguire O’Shea Academy. For over 55 years, this Irish dancing school has thrived in London, hosting feiseanna (competitions), shaping countless dancers and champions, and keeping Irish culture vibrant in the city. The Maguire O’Shea Academy’s influence spread far and wide, not least through Michael and Kathleen’s own six children. Five of the six went on to dance in the world-renowned Riverdance, including Katie, and brother Darren performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York, touring the world with the show for over a decade, even participating in the historic first-ever Riverdance performance in China.
Irish dance, for Katie, is more than a career—it is a family tradition. She grew up hearing stories of her mother’s world-title victories, and seeing well-thumbed photographs of her mother gracing stages with her legendary rhythm in a traditional Kavanagh costume, a green iconic dress which is displayed in the Redbridge Library and Heritage Museum. Kathleen’s role in London’s Irish dancing community is also documented in a special history book Katie proudly keeps.
Adding to the family’s dancing renown, Katie’s sister would also go on to become a three-time World Champion, making her and Kathleen the first mother-daughter pair to achieve such a feat.
Katie’s upbringing was rich in Irish culture, yet she and her siblings were equally shaped by their London environment. She recalls dancing in Trafalgar Square on St. Patrick’s Day and performing at the Royal Albert Hall for Princess Anne. Several of her siblings, including Sean Maguire (LA-based actor, formerly of EastEnders), featured alongside Katie and the Maguire O’Shea dancers in Monty Python’s “Every Sperm Is Sacred” sketch—a humorous nod to how dance entwined with mainstream entertainment.
Katie eventually met her husband, Jason McMorrow (originally from Ballintogher, County Sligo) through Riverdance. They share an understanding of belonging “everywhere and nowhere,” a sentiment Katie describes as being “English in Ireland, and Irish in England.” Though she encountered occasional prejudice in England, especially during times of heightened tensions about identity, she and her family remained steadfast in celebrating their heritage.
Today, Katie carries the torch, teaching, judging and organising world events such as the 70th Great Britain Championships 2024, ensuring that the Maguire O’Shea legacy—and Irish dancing in London—continue to shine for generations to come.