Our Teacher: Sheila Butler-Duffy

The teacher and founder of the Butler School of Irish Dancing is Sheila Butler-Duffy. She began to learn Irish dancing and piping at the age of just 10 years at the Barrett School in New York City. Later she danced with the McNiff School of Irish Dancing.

Sheila received her TCRG in Dublin, 1961. She was one of first members in the formation of the IDTANA in New York and was the chairperson for their first Dinner-Dance. Sheila also taught Ceili Dancing for the Gaelic League. She was in the Fermanagh Pipe Band and the Thomas Davis Irish Players as an actress, director and president. She received her ADCRG in 1971 and judged in many parts of the USA and Canada.

In 1984, Sheila moved to St. Petersburg, Florida and began the Butler School of Irish Dancing. She was the first registered teacher on the West Coast of Florida. She was the treasurer for the IDTANA-Southern Region. She is noted in the book Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing in North America, written by Dr. John Culliane. Sheila is a wonderful dance teacher and has helped many dancers qualify for the World Championships in Ireland.