Our Home our World 2008 The Wild Swans at Coole. Starring Miss Lauren Smyth.

This scene is about one of my dearest friends. Elizabeth Donaghy was someone who lived a few doors away from me in Ballymoney, she was a few years older than me and she and her sister Mary and I attended the same Irish Dance school, The Graham School founded and taught by Mrs Jean Tennant. Dancing was our lives and we use to play festivals in our primary school playground, and just loved our lives in Irish dance. Elizabeth like myself started teaching very young, she was a natural, super organised, bossy, passionate and authentic, she started her school in Newtownards known as Saint Patricks Dancing Club. So to this scene, Elizabeth had great challenges with her health from childhood and sadly on 9th February 2008 my dear friend passed away. Elizabeth taught many great dancers, and loved them all, however, without question she adored Lauren Smyth, and for good reason. The year Elizabeth died I asked Lauren if she would perform in my show in a scene I created as a tribute to my friend Elizabeth. Some years earlier Elizabeth had conceived and choreographed a set dance for Lauren called The Wild Swans at Coole based on the Yeats poem. The music was written by Mr Iain Mackay a multi talented Festival dancer, teacher, violinist and composer. I will never forget the opening night performance of this scene. It was a spiritual moment and Elizabeths presence was very much with us, it was truly a heavenly experience. Lauren then went on to become the principal dancer in Riverdance, a stunning achievement, she inspires dancers of all ages and allows her creative heart to sing. Thank you Lauren and Rest in Peace Elizabeth. xx