Exclusive Q&A by Brad Balfour
When I first encountered Niall O’Leary over 20 years ago, I was launching Irish Connections for Publisher Paddy McCarthy. If anyone in the Irish dance circuit deserved a story then, it was Niall. And so I did that. But he still deserve a story because has become the Godfather of Irish Dance fun New York City.
Along the way, I started attending meetings of the IBO, met many fine people and revisited others including Niall.
Given that the IBO is hosting a dancing and networking event this evening. I thought it was time to get this interview out on Irishexaminerusa.com’s website.
So with tonight’s celebration in mind, it was time to check out in more detail how the life of Niall O’Leary developed including his time as an IBO president, leader of his own dance school and professional architect.
O’Leary had been the Irish Business Organization’s President from 2010-2011, a member of Advisory Board 2015-2017, and the Grand-Marshal for the IBO in the 2022 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
For more info on tonight’s event go to: www.ibonewyork.org
But there much more to him than just this, as the exchange demonstrates.
Q: Like many Irish kids, you took to dance but you stuck with it into adulthood. How did that happen?
Niall O’Leary: My mother told me at a young age that people were talking about me, that I was getting good, and at that point I decided I should stick with it, but the reason I am still doing it is simply because I love dancing, performing, choreographing teaching, adjudicating, playing music for dancing. I love everything about it, and that’s what keeps me going.
There have definitely been times when I have been fed up with it, but that hasn’t happened for a long while. Even during the COVID I was busy choreographing and teaching. But definitely I am more aware since that terrible phase of our lives how special it is to get to perform and hear the appreciation of an audience. That’s what I missed the most, the adrenaline rush from getting up on a stage and doing it!
Q: What came first, music or dance?
Niall O’Leary: Dance at age four, accordion at age seven. My mother had been a dancer, so myself and my sister Aideen were sent to dance lessons as soon as possible.
Q: How did you decide what instruments to play?
Niall O’Leary: I think I must have seen Dermot O’Brien on the television. He was the most famous accordion player in Ireland during my youth, but my parents probably also noticed how I was into the music played at Irish dance competitions in Dublin, and there were some great accordion players involved who would be famous on social media if they were in their prime today. Donal Kelly, Gerald Murphy, Michael Donohoe, to name just a few.
Q: When you wake up, what do you think about first?
Niall O’Leary: it could be architecture, dance, or music. I have been told that on occasion I have been known to sing or dance in my sleep. I often have a tune in my head. sometimes from the evening before, or the previous weekend, or a tune that just came to me. I find music very stimulating.
I regularly use a voice memo recorder to sing into. That way, I can remember newly composed phrases. I usually put on some lights, sometimes some music, drink some water, then I have a quick look at my to-do list and attack the day!
Q: When did you realize that all your interests would be the basis of your career and how did they evolve?
Niall O’Leary: Evolve is the key word there. it didn’t happen as a conscious decision, it just happened by chance. I am fascinated by chance meetings, and chance events generally. there was always a plan to fit as much as possible in, but I definitely didn’t see myself being this busy for so many years.
I have never itemized how much time I spent on architecture, dance, or music. in my head they are all one big creative force. But I love everything that I do, and I am so fortunate to have such a fantastic community of passionate people in NYC and everywhere I go.
Q: How did all this turn into such a business?
Niall O’Leary: In a word, “Riverdance.” It has often been said that people don’t value something that is theirs until someone else tells them it is important, or even worthwhile, and there is no doubting that “Riverdance” was that moment for Irish culture worldwide, but also at home in Ireland. There were many people I knew growing up who, while they were proud to be Irish, felt that Irish music and Irish dance were leftover facets of our past that we had been burdened with by our ancestors.
This line of thinking went out the window with “Riverdance.” the first professional theater show featuring Irish culture largely because many people in Ireland suddenly realized that there was value in something that they had up to that point tried to discard. And suddenly all the Irish dancing schools that were only existing in evenings and weekends had to become professional operations to try and keep up with the demand for Irish dance classes.
Since “Riverdance,” and all the shows that followed, many people have chosen to embrace the world of culture as a business from the outset. Many of these people would be scratching their heads if you told them that in 1980 there were NO Irish dancing schools listed in the business telephone directory in Ireland.
Although they existed, it was not seen as a viable business at that time. I am very fortunate that, even though Irish culture is now seen as a business, it is something that I do because I love to do it. I wake up in the morning with a tune in my head, I dance standing up, sitting down, even lying down. I can choreograph entire routines sitting on airplanes! I derive great delight and enjoyment from sharing my passion with others, whether teaching Irish dance or music, or dancing in shows or playing music at a session.
And I love coming up with new footwork patterns and phrases. Many Irish dance teachers only teach other people’s choreography. However, for me, experimenting, inventing, reworking and thinking outside the box are an intrinsic part of the creative processes that are switched on in my head 24/7.
Q: Where did architecture enter your life, how did it come to play and evolve in your life?
Niall O’Leary: I was always curious about how things were made, and my interest in design was definitely piqued by my travels as a young lad performing and competing in Irish dance. I saw the insides of so many schools and theaters, more than most people. Why were they all different, and yet they could be almost the same? But I think it was when we got an extension put on our house that I became aware of the role of the architect and intrigued by all that entails. So when I went to architecture school at University College Dublin, I learned about the entire process of how buildings get made from conception to built reality, and I was particularly inspired by people who demonstrated a clear passion for their art.
One of my teachers was Paul Keogh, who went in to be president of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI). At first I couldn’t figure him out, he seemed a rather aloof character, but then I slowly became in awe of his steadfast dedication to his craft, and how his face would light up behind his Le Corbusier-esque glasses at a moment of architectural enlightenment. I myself am passionate about good design, and how it can have such a positive impact on people’s lives, work habits, and mental health. I steadfastly believe in the value of living and working in a well-designed space. I love helping people to improve their productivity by redesigning their home, work, or play spaces.
Q: How did you get introduced into the Irish Business Organization and what led to you being a President of the organization?
Niall O’Leary: I met a random dude in a bar while I was playing music one Sunday night — Dennis O’Neill, now a great friend and architectural client. He invited me along to the IBO Christmas party that year, and I joined shortly after that. After serving as a member on a couple of different committees, including the executive board, a number of people encouraged me to go for the top job of President. I was elected unopposed and served two years in the role. I am very proud of what we achieved. We increased membership, activity, and business, and of course we held events in many architecturally memorable spaces.
I was very fortunate to have a great committee serving with me, particularly Sheila Lynott and Greg McIntyre. I am still hosting the IBO business networking breakfast and I headed up the archive committee for the IBO 50th Anniversary Gala. It was a memorable night for the Irish community in NYC, how an organization lasted 50 years is a tribute to every member who ever contributed.
This evening there is a special IBO DANCE event: ‘IBO Dance And Network Ceili Evening. Current IBO President Janet Walsh Daud to me earlier this year ‘I want you to teach us all how to dance’ and so we came up with this of networking in between dances… There are still some tickets available!
Q: How do you balance all your activities?
Niall O’Leary: I have one big to-do list and try to prioritize it according to what needs to get done first. Of course it is always a challenge to stay up-to-date, but I have some great people in both the architecture and the Irish dance worlds who help me to stay on track. There is always the challenge of dealing with current events versus planning ahead. I do most of my planning ahead and dreaming up ideas at the weekend, and also waiting in airports. and especially sitting on airplanes at altitude.
Q: So what else is new?
Niall O’Leary: A year ago I took over from Shane Humphries as President of The Dublin Society of New York. I have spent a lot of time in the last year connecting and reconnecting with Dublin people in the tri-state area…we have a new Committee helping to organize events and supporting other events with a Dublin contingent!
We just held our AGM at Ernie O’Malley’s last Friday, and we have a Christmas Social on Friday December 5th at Dawson 39…both venues are owned by Dubliners in NYC! For more info go to: https://www.dublinsociety.org/
And we are always looking for new dancers at the Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance: https://nialloleary.com/school/
Also check out my events page to see what else I’m up to: http://nialloleary.com/events/