Randburg’s young Irish dancers continue to make the community proud, with Megan Young once again showing her strength on the national stage.

Earlier this year, she and fellow dancers Sarah Loram and Emily Atkins competed at the Irish Dance World Championships in Dublin.

More recently, they took part in the South African championships, where Megan delivered another standout performance, winning the girls 14–15 years Irish dance championship for the third year in a row.

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An achievement she describes as amazing and something she will never take for granted.

She says she feels grateful for the opportunities she has had, knowing that most people never get to say: ‘I’m a South African champion’. She credits her success to consistent hard work, a strong support system, and a determined focus on staying injury-free.

Megan has struggled with injuries in the past, but says her careful approach this year helped her prepare well and compete with confidence. She also says her faith played an important role in carrying her through the season.

The championships also saw Megan and Sarah take part in the winning senior ladies 8-hand Ceili event, qualifying the team for the world championships in Chicago next year. Megan and Emily also danced together in the 13–16 years 8-hand Ceili, which also finished top of its category.

Although Megan qualified for the world championships, she will not compete in Chicago due to financial constraints. She says she hopes to return to the world stage in 2027.

Megan explained that the strong bond within their dance studio makes both training and competing special.

“We’re almost like family. It makes it so much easier to work together and compete as one unit.”

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For her, the best parts of the South African championships were not just the results, but the moments shared with friends, the warm-ups, backstage encouragement, and reconnecting with dancers from across the country. “The people definitely make it memorable.”

Megan also credits her teachers, past and present, for shaping her into the dancer she is today, and she thanks her mother for her constant support.

She says her faith remains central to her journey, helping her through difficult periods when she doubted whether she could continue dancing.

Looking ahead, Megan encourages younger dancers to stay committed and to remember that progress takes time. Her message is simple. “Just keep on going, even when it gets tough. Hard work will always come out on top.”

For Megan and her teammates, the season has been filled with achievements, and the community will no doubt continue to cheer them on as they pursue their dreams on national and international stages.

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