Band / Cast

Áine McGeeney is an award-winning Irish traditional musician, singer and composer from Dundalk, County Louth. A founding member of the acclaimed traditional Irish band Goitse, Áine has toured extensively throughout Ireland and internationally, bringing her distinctive fiddle playing, vocals and energetic performance style to audiences around the world.

Áine holds a BA in Irish Music and Dance and an MA in Irish Music Performance from the University of Limerick. She is an accomplished fiddle player and singer, performing in both Irish and English, and has also toured internationally as lead fiddle player with Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. Her work as a performer and educator has taken her to stages and workshops across Europe, North America and beyond.

Alongside her performance career, Áine has established herself as a highly regarded composer. Her compositions have featured on numerous recordings and she has undertaken commissions including a suite marking the centenary of the 1916 Rising, performed by the Laois Folk Orchestra, and a work commemorating the centenary of the end of the First World War. She has also composed extensively for theatre and projects for young audiences.

Áine composed the original musical score for Mná na hÉireann, first premiered in Dundalk in 2019. The score forms an integral part of the production, using traditional Irish musical influences alongside original composition to reflect the courage, determination, hope and loss within the stories of the women portrayed.

For the 2026 production at the Ambassador Theatre, Áine returns as composer and also performs live as fiddle player, whistle player and singer. Her music works alongside the dance, movement, poetry and storytelling to create a distinctive theatrical celebration of the women whose contribution helped shape modern Ireland.

Áine’s artistry is rooted in Irish traditional music while embracing a contemporary and highly theatrical approach, making her an important creative voice within Mná na hÉireann The Show.

Danny McGuinness is a professional musician and multi-
instrumentalist specialising in piano accordion and whistles. A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, where he
attained his Bachelor’s degree, Danny has built a successful career
performing on stages around the world.
He has toured internationally for 10 years with the acclaimed “Irish
Celtic” show, performing to audiences across Europe, Asia and
beyond. With a strong background in both traditional and
contemporary Irish music, Danny brings a wealth of experience,
versatility and passion to every performance. 

Kaitlín Cullen-Verhauz is a New York-born, Dublin-based folk singer and cross-genre cellist, member of the contemporary folk collective Saltaire.  Classically trained cellist who graduated from a music conservatory at age 18, Kaitlín moved to Dublin initially via a study abroad program at The Gaiety School of Acting. She has performed globally in classical venues in New York (including Carnegie Hall) before pivoting into Irish traditional and folk music and has collaborated and toured with prominent Irish artists like Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Frankie Gavin & De Dannan.

Kieran is an Irish drummer, percussionist and bodhrán specialist currently working between Ireland, London and the USA. As a member of the Grammy nominated, PBS Special featured group ‘Celtic Woman’, he has toured all over the world. In 2023, he joined the Grammy winning group ‘Clannad’ for their Farewell tour. In 2025, Kieran made the move permanently to the USA and now lives in Nashville, TN where he holds the drum chair with upcoming country music sensation, ‘Gareth’. He is also a founding member of the contemporary Irish quartet North by Northwest) with the aim of fusing the old Irish/Celtic traditions with a more modern feel taking inspiration from the Motown, funk and soul genres.

Siobhan Phelan, aged 24, is an accomplished Irish dancer, performer and financial services professional whose passion for Irish dance has taken her from performing at just eight years old to stages around the world. Her love of Irish dance began at a young age. At eight, she was given her first opportunity to perform in a professional dance show. She is a member of the Lorraine Duggan Academy, under the guidance of Lorraine and Kitty.

Siobhan has enjoyed an outstanding competitive career. She is a World Champion and six-time World Championship podium placer, as well as an All-Ireland Champion and nine-time All-Ireland podium placer. Her achievements also include Great Britain, Irish National and eleven Regional Championship titles.  Her professional performance career has taken her to stages around the world. Including Riverdance at Expo 2020 Dubai and the Riverdance UK tour last year. She continues to perform with Danceperados of Ireland.
Away from the stage, Siobhan works full-time in financial services, successfully balancing her professional career with her continued passion for performing, competing and also working towards her TCRG exam.
Siobhan is absolutely thrilled to join the cast of Mná na hÉireann and portraying the figure of Countess Markievicz. She is honoured to bring such an important and fascinating figure in Irish history to life and most especially to celebrate the wonderful women who helped shape a nation.

Enya Higgins is a 21-year-old Irish dancer from Mullahoran, Co. Cavan. As the daughter of an Irish dancing teacher, she has been dancing with the
Higgins Flynn School of Dance since she was three years old.
An accomplished competitive dancer, Enya placed 6th at the 2026 World Championships in Chicago and is also an All Ireland, All Scotland and two-
time British National champion. One of her fondest memories is placing 2ndat the 2019 World Championships in Greensboro, on the same day that her brother Fionn placed 3rd. Enya is entering her fourth year studying Pharmacy at Trinity College Dublin, where she is also a member of the Irish
dancing team that won Intervarsities in 2024.
Beyond competitive dance, Enya has enjoyed a variety of performance opportunities, including dancing with Fusion Fighters at the Fleadh Cheoil,
being interviewed by BBC’s Blue Peter as part of the Riverdance Summer School Matinee and featuring as a cover girl for Irish Dancing Magazine. Enya also plays traditional piano, fiddle and harp, as well as classical piano.
She is delighted to be making her Mná na hÉireann debut, portraying Nurse Elizabeth O’ Farrell, and is excited to bring the production to life once again.

Zoe Talbot, from Swords, Dublin is an accomplished Irish dancer, singer and musical theatre performer, a graduate of Musical Theatre from the Irish College of Musical Theatre at DIT Conservatory, a multiple World Champion and a qualified TCRG Irish dance teacher. A proud member of Riverdance, she has toured internationally as part of its 25th and 30th Anniversary productions across the USA, UK, Mexico, Dubai and Japan, and has also performed in Prodijig: The Revolution in Cork, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and at the London Palladium. Her extensive theatre credits include leading roles in the Olympia Pantomime, Riverdance at the Gaiety Theatre, Oklahoma! and Little Shop of Horrors at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Cinderella at the Everyman Theatre Cork, Annie at Cork Opera House and Jane Eyre at the Gate Theatre Dublin. Zoe is delighted to make her Ambassador Theatre debut as part of Mná na hÉireann, celebrating and honouring the remarkable women at the heart of Ireland’s history.

Michaela McBride O’Donoghue is a 21-year-old Irish dancer from Galway, where dancing has always been a big part of her family. She started dancing at just 3 years old, taught by her mother and aunt at the McBride School of Irish Dancing. She is currently studying at University of Galway while continuing to pursue her passion for dance. Throughout her dancing career, Michaela has achieved many successes, including multiple Connacht titles and several World Championship medals. She has also placed 2nd at the North American Nationals and 4th at both the All Scotlands and British Nationals. One of the highlights of her career was placing 4th at the All Irelands and performing with Riverdance. Michaela has also been part of Na Rinceoirí, where she was Dance Captain for their shows at the Guinness Storehouse. She has performed on TG4, RTÉ and Virgin Media, as well as at a variety of events and shows.

She is delighted to be portraying Julia Grenan in Mná Na hÉireann and is looking forward to bringing the stories of the women who shaped modern Irish history to life through Irish dance.

Cara Flannagan Walsh is a professional Irish dancer from Dublin, Ireland. Dancing since the age of three, Cara achieved remarkable success throughout her competitive career placing runner-up at the CLRG World Championships and earning a further three world podium finishes in the years that followed. She is also a five time Leinster champion. Since closing the chapter on her competitive career, Cara has performed professionally around the world, dancing across Ireland, the UK, France, Monaco, and most recently in Taiwan as a cast member of Lord of the Dance. 

Cara recently graduated from Dublin City University in 2025 with a First Class Honours BSc in Sport Science and Health. Her academic background has allowed her to bring much of what she learned throughout her degree into her dance training and performance. 

Cara is thrilled to be part of the cast of Mná na hÉireann and to have the opportunity to share the inspirational stories of Ireland’s brave women through dance. She is especially excited to debut the show in the heart of Dublin, her hometown, where many of these remarkable women once stood.

Seoda Wang is an Irish dancer from Donegal Town in the Northwest of Ireland. She is nineteen years old and grew up competing and performing with the McNelis Cunningham school. She has travelled internationally with dance, placing 3rd at the World Championships, performing on national TV, and dancing with the Chinese Embassy in Ireland. Seoda is also a proficient piano player, and she now lives in Dublin where she is beginning her third year of Actuarial & Financial Studies in UCD.

Chloe Kenna, from Carpentersown in Dublin started dancing at the age of five and dances with Scoil Rince Rhythm. Dancing has become a huge part of Chloe’s life and a passion that continues to inspire her every day.

In 2022 Chloe became All Ireland Champion and topped this in 2024 when she became World Irish Dance Champion. For the past four years, Chloe has also had the privilege of attending the Riverdance Summer School, where she has been selected each year to perform in the matinee performances alongside the Riverdance cast.

Chloe dreams of one day touring with a professional dance show and hopes to become a dance teacher in the future, inspiring the next generation to discover the same love and passion for Irish dancing that has shaped her own journey.

Being selected to perform as part of Mná na hÉireann The Show is a huge honour for Chloe, and she is incredibly excited to be part of such a special production celebrating the strength, talent and spirit of Irish women. 

Laura-Jane Leggett is a 20-year-old Irish dancer from Cavan who has been dancing since the age of three with the Onórach Mullhern Geraghty School. Irish dance has always been a huge part of her life, having grown up surrounded by it through her granny, Margaret Webber, and mother, Alison Webber, who have both taught Irish dancing throughout Cavan for many years.

Competitively, Laura placed 4th at the 2025 CLRG National Championships in Killarney, recently finished in the top 20 at the CLRG World Championships in Chicago and have been lucky enough to win the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann as part of a Ceilí team several times. She is currently studying Irish and History at Dublin City University, and is especially excited to be part of a show that celebrates the incredible women who shaped Ireland’s history and is honoured to help tell their stories and celebrate the women who fought for Ireland’s independence through Irish dance and music!”

Daragh Roddy is a 20-year-old Irish dancer from Dundalk, Co. Louth, proudly representing the third generation of World Champions in his family. A passionate dancer from a young age, Daragh has earned an array of major competitive accolades, including a World title, three Ulster Championships, three All-Ireland Championships, and an All-Scotland Championship.

Beyond the competitive arena, Daragh is a dynamic stage performer while also continuing his studies at Ulster University, Belfast. His television highlights include performing on RTÉ’s Up for the Match to celebrate the 2025 All-Ireland Hurling Final. Following in the footsteps of his father and aunt—both former lead Irish dancers—Daragh performs with prestigious companies such as Riverdance, and he is thrilled to bring his passion and high-energy performance style to this production of Mná na h’Éireann. While the male cast perform many personae in this storytelling, Daragh is particularly honoured to portray the figure of Joseph Mary Plunkett who married Grace Gifford at Kilmainham Gaol just hours before his execution on May 4th, 1916.

ames Fox is a 21-year-old Irish dancer from Ballinalee, County Longford. He has been dancing since he was five years old and currently dances with the O’Reilly Bransfield School of Irish Dance, where he continues to compete.

An accomplished competitive dancer, James has achieved success at a national and international level, including titles at the All Scotland, North American Nationals and Irish National Championships. In 2025, he achieved a personal best of 2nd place at the World Championships in Dublin, an achievement he is particularly proud of.

Alongside his competitive career, James has gained professional performance experience, including performing with Lord of the Dance. In 2025, he performed with the production for two weeks in Taiwan, taking to the stage in Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung. In 2026, James performed as part of the Lord of the Dance UK Tour.

James particularly loves the creativity and expression that Irish dancing brings and enjoys the opportunity to bring his own style and energy to the stage. He is delighted to be making his debut with Mná na hÉireann and is looking forward to bringing the production to life in Dublin and helping to tell its story through Irish dance.

Scott RyanScott Ryan is a 17-year-old Australian Irish dancer whose passion for dance has taken him from Australia to Ireland and onto the world stage.

Scott began his Irish dancing journey in Australia with the Keady Upton Academy of Irish Dance, where he became a three-time Australian National Champion. He later moved to Ireland and joined the Flynn O’Kane Academy of Irish Dance, continuing to develop his dancing and achieve success at the highest level.

Since moving to Ireland, Scott has become a five-time Munster Champion, North American Irish Dancing National Champion, and has achieved an impressive 2nd place at the World Championships.

Scott is delighted and incredibly excited to be dancing with Mná na hÉireann. He is enthusiastic about the opportunities and experiences ahead and looks forward to being part of the wonder cast of Mná na hÉireann The Show. Scott would also like to wish Carol Leavy Joyce the very best of luck and is excited for what lies ahead for the future of this production.

Éamonn Smyth is from Ardee Co. Louth and has been dancing for 14 years. He began his dancing career at six years old with The Carol Leavy School of Irish Dance and during his time with Carol he gained incredible knowledge and technique and his love for the art form of dance. Éamonn is a member of the McGee School of Irish Dance in Dundalk and is current Irish National Champion in his age for the second year running. He is also the current Ulster champion and to date, has achieved two world medals in his competitive career. Éamonn is looking forward to competing once more at 2027 World Dance Championships in Belfast but at the moment is enjoying the rehearsals with Carol and all the creative team and cast and wishes Mná  a successful run in October at The Ambassador Theatre in Dublin.

Erínn and Aoibhinn are accomplished Irish dancers with a longstanding connection to Mná na hÉireann. In the 2018 and 2019 productions, Aoibhinn portrayed Countess Markievicz, while Erínn represented Winifred Carney.

This year, Erínn and Aoibhinn are delighted to return to the production as Dance Captains. Having both been part of Mná na hÉireann in previous productions, their return in these roles represents a natural progression in their involvement with the show. Drawing on their experience as dancers, they now take on the responsibility of leading, supporting and mentoring the troop.

Erínn McGuinness, from Stabannon, Co. Louth, began her dancing career at the age of four in Ardee. After nine years dancing with An Comhdháil, Erínn moved to An Coimisiún, where she danced under the direction of the Carol Leavy School. She has performed extensively both nationally and internationally in competitions and shows and has appeared on television on numerous occasions. In addition to Irish dancing, Erínn is a talented fiddle player who has performed both as a soloist and as part of various groups for television and radio.

Erínn represented Winifred Carney in the 2018 and 2019 productions and served as Assistant Dance Captain in 2019. She is delighted to return once again to assist Carol and the crew in her role as Dance Captain. With a particular interest in the history of our country, Erínn is excited to help share the stories of Ireland’s revolutionary women with you.

Aoibhinn O’Hagan from Newry, Co.Armagh, began Irish dancing at the age of four under the instruction of Scoil Rince Mona Ní Rodaigh in Dundalk. Both her mother and aunt were among Mona’s first students. Throughout her competitive career, Aoibhinn travelled and danced extensively around the world, representing her school at numerous national and international competitions.

Aoibhinn enjoyed considerable success as a team dancer, becoming a five-time World Champion alongside her teammates. Having previously performed in Mná na hÉireann, she is delighted to return to the production as Dance Captain. Aoibhinn is excited to share her experience while helping to bring the stories of Ireland’s courageous women to life on stage.