THE MULVIHILL-LYNCH SCHOOL:

Formed in 1996, the Mulvihill-Lynch School of Irish Dance, under the direction of Debbie Lynch-Webber and Jerry Mulvihill, became one of the most competitive dance schools within the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States.  The school currently boasts approximately 200 students in three locations.  Mulvihill-Lynch dancers are regionally, nationally and internationally known champions on the competitive circuit.  Students have won solo medals at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships, the North American Irish Dance Championships, the All-Scotland Championships, the Great Britain Championships, the British National Championships, the All-Ireland and World Irish Dance Championships.   Mulvihill-Lynch dancers have also won numerous regional and national gold, silver and bronze medals in ceili and figure dancing.  As well as competing at feisenna all over the world, the Mulvihill-Lynch dancers also display their talents at events throughout Long Island and New York City, including numerous appearances on FOX CHANNEL 5's GOOD DAY NEW YORK morning show.  They also contribute many hours to our local communities, performing at various special events throughout the year.  Classes are currently offered in Suffolk County in Lake Ronkonkoma, Kings Park and the Hamptons for children 4 years of age and up. 

INSTRUCTORS:

Debbie Lynch-Webber T.C.R.G.

Debbie Lynch-Webber T.C.R.G. began her dancing career at age 7 under the direction of Jerry Mulvihill T.C.R.G.  At the age of 9, she became a student at the Schade Academy of Irish Dance, under the direction of Mary Lou Schade.  Debbie competed at both the national and international levels.  She placed top 3 at the Eastern Regional Oireachtas six years consecutively and placed in the top 3 at National Championships on numerous occasions.  Debbie's greatest achievement was earning 3 medals at the World Irish Dance Championships, the highest placement being 5th, when she was 14 years old.  After retiring from competition in 1993, Debbie reunited with Jerry, this time helping him teach once a week at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Huntington and then later helping at his Kings Park location.

Debbie aquired her T.C.R.G.(teacher certificate in Irish step dancing) in 1996. She is a certified Irish step dance teacher through An Coimisiun le Rince Gaelacha and a member of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America.  She formed the Mulvihill-Lynch School of Irish Dance in April 1996 with partner and former teacher, Jerry Mulvihill.  The school soon expanded to other locations in St. James and Hampton Bays.  In 1998, Debbie opened the Mulvihill-Lynch Irish dance studio in Centereach, which has become the school's main base.  Today, she is the primary instructor at Mulvihill-Lynch and will be celebrating 12 years of teaching Irish Step dancing this year.  She graduated from SUNY Stony Brook in 1997 with a degree in Business Administration.  She currently resides in Lake Grove, NY with her husband John and two young children, Liam, 7 and Maggie, 5

Jerry Mulvihill T.C.R.G.

Jerry was born in 1921 in Moyvane, County Kerry.  He took his first steps in Irish dancing at the age of four from dance master, Joe Enright.  He later took lessons from the famous Kerry dancer, Jerry Molyneaux.  During his younger days as a dancer, Jerry enjoyed traveling to Limerick, Cork, and various parts of Clare to compete in feiseanna.  In 1948, Jerry emigrated to the United States where he settled in New York City.  He then took lessons with, and help assist Professor McKenna.  He fondly remembers teaching Patsy Early-McLoughlin her first step of the Jig.  In 1951, Jerry opened his own class at the Keeper Hill Hall in the Bronx.  He named his school the Mulvihill School.  His students were well known, having performed and competed for thousands of people.  Later, Jerry expanded his school to other parts of the Bronx, Rockland, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Jerry received his T.C.R.G. in 1969.  Shortly after, he moved from the Bronx out to Long Island.   Jerry continued to teach and travel to the city many times a week.  Jerry can be accredited to teaching thousands of dancers throughout his years, many of them champions.  A number of his pupils have gone on to become teachers themselves.  Some well known teachers include Kenny Verlin (RIP), Donny Golden, Cathy Spencer-Revis, Helaine Sanders, Peggy Moriarity-White, Patty Moriarty, Kerry Kelly, Brian Sexton, Lisa and Karen Petri, Donald Hunt, just to name a few.  Jerry currently lives in Kings Park with his grandaughter, Debbie Walshe and her family.  He has now retired from teaching Irish dance but is sorely missed and often thought of by all his students!!!  WE LOVE YOU JERRY!!!