meet the team
betty sheehan, tcrg
School Co-Owner Betty Sheehan has been dancing since she learned to walk. Early on, she showed an affinity for percussive dance, much to the chagrin of her mother, who long lamented her much-scuffed kitchen floor. Betty studied Irish Dancing with Marie Moore, TCRG/ADCRG, in New York, and competed at the local, regional, and national levels during her competitive career. In 2005, she sat and passed the rigorous An Coimisiun TCRG examination, and is now a registered teacher with An Chomhdhail in Ireland.
colleen quigley-carey, tcrg
Colleen Quigley-Carey. has been teaching Irish dance for over 15 years, and is delighted to be working with the Aherne Sheehan team!
A champion dancer herself, Colleen studied under the late Margaret Pike, her daughter Ellen Pike, and the wonderful staff at the Pike School of Irish Dance in Yonkers, NY. Through her teaching, Colleen always hopes to honor the legacy of the incredible female teachers who taught her not only to love Irish dancing, but to apply the lessons and values learned through this beautiful dance form to all aspects of her life. Positivity, the power of hard work, confidence and respect for self and others are the most important traits that Colleen strives to pass along to any dancer she works with.
When the Pike School closed, Colleen transitioned to dancing for Sean Reagan and the Inishfree School of Irish dance, and thanks him for his wonderful mentorship. With Sean’s encouragement, and with special study lessons from Betty Sheehan (who was instrumental in preparing Colleen for her teachers test), she passed her TCRG exam in 2008.
Colleen was fortunate to be part of the dance journeys of many dancers, some of whom went on to win the World Championships, All Irelands, Great Britains, British Nationals, All Scotlands, All Europeans, North American Nationals and Regionals, as well as many, many top 5 and top 10 placements at these prestigious events. Although these accomplishments are very impressive, Colleen has always been proud of every dancer, regardless of placement or dance level. She takes as much joy and pride in a Bun Grad placement for a dancer as she does in a world title.
Colleen has performed Irish dancing throughout the US, most notably performing at Carnegie Hall and at Dollywood! She was even named as an Irish Echo Top 40 Under 40 in 2016 for her accomplishments in teaching Irish dancing.
Most days you can find her in Allendale, NJ, where she lives with her husband, Mike, and their two wonderful children, Keeva and Tripp.
elise wright, tcrg
Elise Wright has been involved with Irish dancing for over 30 years, first as a dancer and now a teacher. She was an open champion and world qualifier, winning over 20 Australian National titles in ceili, and traveling extensively to compete and perform. Elise learned from Australian Irish dancing legend Janice Currie-Henderson, and then Geraldine French later in her career. She was the choreographer for The Signature Project during their inaugural off-broadway run in 2018. In 2014, she passed the rigorous An Coimisiun TCRG examination, and is now a registered teacher with An Chomhdhail in Ireland.
These days Elise lives back in her home country Australia, but is very active in the USA Irish Dance Alliance branch, as well as working with the champ dancers at. Aherne Sheehan.
john aherne, tcrg
Founding Teacher John Aherne began dancing at the age of 7 under the instruction of Cyril McNiff, TCRG/ADCRG, in Queens, New York. Under Mr. McNiff's instruction, and later, with the Marie Moore School, John competed in regional, national, and world championships. He co-choreographed and danced in a critically acclaimed off-Broadway production of Arrah-na-Pogue; his work was praised in the New York Times, Variety, Time Out New York, and Newsday. In 2008, he passed the rigorous TCRG examination. Fr John Aherne now leads the parish of St Mary’s Pompton Lakes, NJ.
