DEIRDRE O'SULLIVAN TOOLAN
Deirdre O’Sullivan was born in the Bronx the third child of John & Anna O’Sullivan.  Deirdre, like her brother John and sister Annemarie, began learning about her Irish Heritage.  At the age of 4 years, along with her family, she moved from the Bronx to Croton Falls in upper Westchester County.   She began taking dancing lessons from her mother Anna, traveling to dancing every Saturday morning along with her siblings.
 
Deirdre enjoyed her dancing but enjoyed meeting all her friends and cousins at dancing each Saturday.  Once she started competing, her natural ability showed and she won countless medals at feisanna throughout the Eastern seaboard.   At the age of 11 Deirdre, with her brother and sister, transferred to Jimmy and Patricia Friel.  Under Jimmy and Pat’s guidance, Deirdre’s dancing continued to develop and at the both Regional Oireachtas and North American Championships she placed as high as 2nd .  She was always in the top five at almost every major competition.  When Jimmy and Pat closed their school in 1985, Deirdre went to the Early-McLaughlin Dancing School in the Bronx continuing her solo and figure dancing under Patsy’s guidance.  She continued to dance in the McLaughlin Ceili and Figure Teams while she was at college.

Deirdre continued her education at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. In 1993, she graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy.   During her time at college she studied for her T.C.R.G. exam and passed in 1992 but did not start teaching as she was focusing on her physical therapy profession. In the fall of 2005, Deirdre decided to continue her education and in April 2006, she completed her Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy.

In February 1996, Deirdre re-opened the O’Sullivan School of Irish Dancing.  Under her direction, the school developed into one of the best in North America.  Deirdre’s students have competed in feisanna in Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada and all over the United States.  Many of her dancers have medaled at the All Ireland and many have recall medals from the World Competitions.  The teams are equally competitive and have won many Regional Titles and received top awards at the Nationals.  In 2005, Deirdre brought her first ceili team to Ennis, Co. Clare for the World Championships where they recalled.  This year, 2006, two of Deirdre’s ceili teams competed at the All Ireland and both teams placed 10th and received recall medals.

Deirdre’s great love for dancing shows through her dancers performances whether it be at a show for Senior Citizens, the Mayor of New York City, Carnegie Hall or the World Championships.  She is always there for them when they go out for the first time under her name and she is proudest when they do their best and win

ANNA O'SULLIVAN
Anna Connaghan O’Sullivan was born in Glasgow, Scotland of County Donegal parents who instilled a great love for Irish dancing, music and language in all of their four children.  Anna began dancing in September 1947 and competed in her first feis in the spring of 1948 where she won her first medal.  There was only one feis in Scotland in the 1940’s and 50’s so in 1953 Anna traveled to Newcastle upon Tyne and won the Minor Championship there.  Since there were more feisanna in England and Ireland Anna continued to travel and won many awards.  In 1961 Anna began teaching in Glasgow with Julianna Lavelle Kilcoynne and in June of 1963 the minor team placed 2nd at the Newcastle Feis.

In October 1963 Anna immigrated to the USA and shortly thereafter began teaching Irish Dancing.  In March 1964 Anna along with Peter J. Smith, Fedelmia Davis, Cyril McNiff (RIP), Kevin McKenna and Phil Kearns, formed the Irish Dancing Teachers Association of North America.  Also in 1964 Anna married John Christopher O’Sullivan, who came from Bantry, Co. Cork.  They had six children, John, Annemarie, Deirdre, Kevin, Theresa, and Dermot.  Along with Anna’s love for Irish Dancing and a deep love of her heritage, John also had a great love for Gaelic Football and anything Irish.  They instilled in their children the same passion and love of Ireland and Irish heritage.

Not content with competing locally, the O’Sullivan School of Irish Dancing Class competed all over North America and became one of the top dancing schools on the North American Continent.  They won countless awards in solo, ceili, figure dancing and dance dramas not only at local feisanna, but many Regional and National levels as well.  The dancers also competed at many feisanna in Ireland and Scotland and brought back many honors, awards and medals.

In 1975 Anna brought her first figure team to the World Championships and they placed 4th in the Junior Figure Dancing Championship.  In 1986 Brenda Cox Browne became the first solo dancer from the school to place at the World Dancing Championships in Limerick, Ireland.  The dancers also appeared at many concerts, shows and events throughout the Tri State Area and on the Bill Boggs Show on live television.

In 1986 Anna had to make one of the hardest decisions in her dancing life and give up her teaching career to take care of her family.  In February she closed the school and some of her students went to other teachers in the area.  In July of 1986 the Irish Dancing Teachers Association of North America honored Anna at their annual convention and Championships in Syracuse. In 1987 Anna was elected onto the Examination Board of An Coimisiun. Although there was no O’Sullivan School for several years, Anna continued to help many teachers who asked for her help with their schools.  She also continued to adjudicate at feisanna throughout North America, Ireland, and Scotland and help new teachers obtain their TCRG and ADCRG certification from An Coimisiun, the governing body.

THERESA O'SULLIVAN-RANDALL

Theresa O’Sullivan was born in New York City, the fifth child of Anna & John O’Sullivan.  Theresa followed in her older brother and sisters’ footsteps and began learning about her Irish heritage and culture from a very early age.  In fact she attended her very first dancing class at just 3 weeks old.  She began formal lessons under her mother Anna at 4½ years old.  She danced under the watchful eye of her mother until Anna gave up the school in 1986. Theresa then transferred to the McLoughlin School of Irish Dancing and danced for Patsy McLoughlin until she was 22 years old. 

During Theresa’s 18 years of competitive Irish dancing she danced at competitions throughout the world.  During this time she received numerous awards and titles.  She is a 5 time Eastern Regional Champion, and 4 time National Champion and the 1996 U.S, Senior Belt Champion.  The highlight of her competitive career came in 1997 when she won the Senior Ladies World Irish Dancing Championships.  Theresa was the first American female to win a World Championship title, opening the door for other American females who have been able to follow in her footsteps.  While Theresa competed at feisanna throughout the world she found time to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy in 1997 at Quinnipiac University. 

Having won the ultimate prize in competitive Irish Dance, Theresa decided to go out on top.  She then went on to tour and star in Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” for 2 years.  During her time in the show Theresa worked very hard and was eventually asked to take on the lead role of Morrighan, The Temptress.   Another highlight of her dance career was being part of Michael Flatley’s farewell performance at Hyde Park, London, in front of 25,000 people.

After Theresa left the show for good in 2000, she became engaged to Richard Randall, a native Californian.  She moved to CA in August 2000 and got married 2 years later.  She took the TCRG exam in July of 2001 and opened the West Coast Branch of the O’Sullivan School of Irish Dancing in September 2001. 

Since then the students have been setting their own standard of excellence here on the West Coast.  They have won numerous awards and have performed for the LA Police Department’s Emerald Society, the Celeste Guild of the Pacific Symphony, and continue to wow audiences throughout Southern California. 

Theresa wants to instill in her students a love for Irish dancing and culture.  She wants the students to learn the value of working hard to achieve their goals while enjoying the friendships that are made along the way.

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