Teachers
Rita O’Shea (ADCRG/ BG)
Rita O’Shea-Chaplin was born in Galway, Ireland, and was a champion dancer. She has taught Irish dance in both Ireland and America for more than 65 years. Rita is a registered teacher, adjudicator, and examiner with the Irish Dance Commission of Dublin, Ireland. Rita has trained many dancers for their teacher’s and adjudicator’s certificates. Rita also served as a member of the examining committee of An Coimisiún Rince na hEireann (Irish Dance Commission). She has taught thousands of children Irish culture through the medium of Irish dance, and many of her students are now dancing teachers and adjudicators themselves.
Lisa Chaplin McAllister (ADCRG/ BG)
Lisa Chaplin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and has over 30 years experience teaching Irish dancing. She was the State and New England Regional Champion many times and was the North American Champion in 1981. Lisa is a well-known choreographer and has taught many Irish dance workshops throughout the country. Lisa is also a registered teacher and adjudicator with the Irish Dance Commission of Dublin, Ireland.
Sharon Reidy Peterson (TCRG)
“What I love the most about being an Irish Step Dancing teacher, is the opportunity I have to help young people build confidence and a stronger sense of self, just like Rita and Lisa helped me to do. I am thrilled that I am able to pass on to others what they gave to me.” Sharon has been with the O’Shea-Chaplin Academy of Irish Dance for approximately 20 years. Sharon is a registered teacher with the Irish Dance Commission of Dublin, Ireland, and we are proud to have her on our teaching staff at the O’Shea-Chaplin Academy of Irish Dance.
Aisling Francouer (TCRG)
Rita O’Shea gave Aisling her first pair of ghillies at the age of 5 months. Inevitably, Aisling would one day join the team of dance instructors that led her to such great success in her career. Aisling competed in many local, regional, national, and international competitions. She was the New England Regional Senior Lady Champion in 2007. Aisling hung up her dancing shoes in 2009 after graduating from Boston College with degrees in English and Communications. She is a registered teacher with the Irish Dance Commission of Dublin, Ireland. When she is not teaching dancing, she is working as a Senior Development Editor at UpToDate, Inc, an online medical information publication for clinicians and patients.
Maeve McAllister (TCRG)
Maeve is daughter of Lisa Chaplin McAllister and granddaughter of Rita O’Shea. Maeve danced competitively for 17 years. She competed at regional, national, and international competitions. In 2018, her senior mixed ceili won the national championships. In more recent years, Maeve attended Saint Anselm College where she became the president of the Irish dance team. Her love for dancing and the Irish culture was greatly influenced by her mother and grandmother.
Mairead Dougherty McCaul (TCRG)
Mairead started dancing at the age of 5. She learned that ballet, tap, and jazz didn’t fit as easily as Irish dancing. She was enthralled by the competitive solo and team aspects of the sport. She has gone on to compete at regional, national, and world championships in both solo and team dancing. Through her travels she made lifelong friends and last memories. Working hard alongside her teams, she has earned 5 world medals, most recently being 2023 Senior Mixed Ceili World Champions. Mairead hung up her shoes in fall of 2023 to continue to pursue her passion for Irish dancing, as a teacher. When not in the studio, Mairead is helping others by acquiring her Nurse Practitioner license at Northeastern University, right here in Boston.
Rebecca Munro (TCRG)
Rebecca started dancing at the age of 5. She saw Irish dance for the first time at the Victorian Fair in Melrose and fell in love with it. Rebecca danced for 18 years and has competed at regional, national, and international competitions in both solo and team dancing. She was a five-time solo world qualifier and has multiple team podium placements at regional and national competitions. Most recently, she came out of retirement in 2023 to achieve a second place World Medal with her team in the Senior Ladies Ceili. She has been with O’Shea Chaplin from the beginning of her dancing career and is so excited to get to teach alongside the amazing teachers and friends who shaped her into the dancer she dreamed she could be. She looks forward to doing the same for her students. When not in the studio, Rebecca is a 5th grade teacher in a town just north of Boston.
Conor O’Brien (TCRG)
We are so proud of Conor O’Brien for passing the TCRG exam in 2024! Check back for his full bio coming soon.
