Mayo based World champion dancer to represent province at Mary from Dungloe

Crossmolina businesswoman Katie McClafferty calls on Mayo people to share their memories of the festival

A Crossmolina-based entrepreneur and world champion Irish dancer has been named Connacht Mary at this year's Mary from Dungloe International Festival - and she is hoping the news will unlock a lifetime of memories from Mayo people with a connection to one of Ireland's most beloved summer events.

Katie McClafferty, 28, who runs Nails by Katie in Crossmolina, will represent the province at the celebrated festival in Dungloe, County Donegal, this summer.

Born and raised in Glasgow, Katie moved to Lahardane in December 2023 - drawn to north Mayo by her boyfriend Kyle Hampson, a musician she met while touring professionally with Rhythm of the Dance, who is originally from Lahardane.

A graduate of the University of Glasgow with a degree in Human Biology, Katie trained as a beauty therapist and worked at MWM Beauty in Swinford before opening her own business in October 2025. She is currently working towards her TCRG qualification to become a certified Irish dancing teacher, with plans to open her own school.

Her connection to Irish dance runs deep. Katie has been dancing since the age of four with the Caroline Greene School of Irish Dancing in Glasgow, competing at All Scotland, All Ireland, Great Britain and World Championship level until the age of 21.

In 2016 and 2017, her céilí team won the Senior Ladies Céilí World Championships. She went on to tour professionally for five years with Rhythm of the Dance, Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, Irish Celtic and Murphy's Celtic Legacy, performing across the UK, Ireland, Europe, the United States, China, Taiwan and Central Asia.

Her connection to Dungloe is equally personal. All four of Katie's grandparents were from Donegal.

Her grandfather, Tony-Mai Gallagher from Mullaghderg, drove the buses that brought emigrants and their families from Glasgow back to Donegal each summer.

"I grew up going to the festival every year on my Granda's bus with my mum, aunties, uncles and cousins," said Katie.

"It has always been my favourite holiday of the year. Dungloe is one of my favourite places in the world."

"The Mary of Dungloe is a big celebration of Irish heritage, culture, dance and music taking place from July 25 to August 3.

Families from all over the world with Donegal and Irish roots travel back every year to be part of it. Each Mary is chosen to represent her town, county or diaspora community - and to me, representing Connacht means representing the people of Mayo who have that same connection, whether they grew up here or thousands of miles away."

Katie has already been promoting the festival in the region, taking part in both the Westport and Glasgow St Patrick's Day parades earlier this year.

She is sponsored for the festival by Gracie's Bar in Sligo and Carrick-on-Shannon, and extends her thanks to all local Connaught sponsors who have come on board.

She is now appealing to anyone in Mayo who has a memory of the Mary of Dungloe - whether as a past contestant, a regular visitor, a family member of a former Mary, or simply someone who made the trip to Dungloe down through the years - to get in touch and share their story.

"I would love to hear from people," she said.

"Every memory, every connection - it all means something."