20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
I am an Irish dancer who was crowned champion after wrist break
Daisy Harkness injured herself two weeks before attending the World Irish Dance Association in Belgium, throwing her chances of performing on the prestigious stage into jeopardy.
The 10-year-old who has had major success in the past, including taking home the World Champion title in 2023, didn't know if there was still a chance of her performing up until the very last moment.
On the morning of the show, orthopaedic consultants were able to remove the cast in place of a splint with a metal plate, allowing her to grab the championship title.
The youngster from Greenock attends the Alana Rose Irish Dance Company, which has run in Parkhall, Clydebank, for nearly 10 years.
Daisy Harkness from Greenock. (Image: Supplied) Alana McLaughlin, speaking to the Glasgow Times, said: "I am so proud of all of my dancers, but a very special mention to these two dancers, Daisy and Nathan, who I have watched work so hard with so much passion and dedication.
"Daisy had also actually broken her wrist two weeks before going, and we didn't know if she was going to be able to get to dance, but thankfully, the orthopaedic consultants let her cast off the morning of her dance and put on a splint with a metal plate.
"We were all so nervous waiting for her appointment in case she wasn't allowed to dance."
The Clydebank dance troupe took 18 dancers of all ages, from seven years old to 46, to Belgium, taking home multiple trophies.
The team poured in hard work and determination in the run-up to the competition, training four times a week with personal trainers, attending the gym, making sure they were eating and sleeping well and undertaking education.
Ten dancers bagged a Podium Place Globe, meaning they placed in the top five, including Daisy and her peer Nathan, who also took home the World Champion for his category.
(Image: Supplied) (Image: Supplied) This win for Nathan McRae is the third year he has taken the spot as world champion despite having a busy routine.
Nathan has been helping to teach and choreograph at the dance school in between his university studies, working and attending classes.
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Nathan McRae and Alana McLaughlin. (Image: Supplied) Dance teacher Alana called him an "inspiration".
She said: "Nathan works so hard between university, work, and helping me teach at the dance school.
"He does a lot of the choreography for the dance school, so not only does he attend his own classes, but he is at class for a few hours before and after teaching others.
"He's just an inspiration to me and all the other dancers."
