Press Release

Saint Mary's College Student is the World Irish Dancing Champion

Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Ind.
(574) 284-4579

April 17, 2009 (Notre Dame, IN)– Irish eyes were smiling at Deirdre Robinett ’10 when she won the World Irish Dancing Championships last week.

The Championships were held from April 5-12 in Philadelphia, PA. Robinett is from the Cincinnati area and dances with the Cincinnati McGing Irish Dancers. She is a five-time National Champion and has qualified 11 times for the World Championships. This is the first time the championship has been held in the United States which made winning a little better for Robinett. “As an American, it was exciting to win the first world championships in America,” she said.

Robinett, who has been dancing since she was six, attributes part of her success in dancing to the Saint Mary’s College community. “I had to be really organized with school but all of my professors understood my training for competition and were supportive. I feel like that is part of Saint Mary’s atmosphere. She admits that while being a college student and training for a world championship was hectic, it can be done.  “I’ve learned to make some sacrifices, but if you really put in the effort, you can do what you want to do,” she says.

Robinett is a biology major and chemistry minor who plans to continue her schooling after graduating to pursue a career in medicine.

About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women’s institution offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study. The College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Saint Mary's College ranks among the nation's top liberal arts colleges in U.S. News & World Report's 2009 annual survey. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary’s is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.