The first championship was a shock. The second was a confirmation.
The third championship in 2026? Business as usual.
University of Dayton Irish Dance again established itself as one of the top programs in the nation after winning first place in the “fun number” competition at the National Collegiate Irish Dance Championships April 11, in Madison, Wisconsin. The win was the third consecutive fun number title for UD Irish Dance, which captured the 2026 title with Mission Flyer 1, a space travel-themed piece that honored Dayton’s aviation history.
“This achievement took a great deal of hard work, dedication and teamwork, and it means so much to all of us,” said team co-president Kate Baldwin, a junior civil engineering major.
In the fun number category, teams create original Irish dance choreography to popular music. All three of the club’s championship performances featured “flyer” themes in a nod to the University and the city.
In addition to the overall title, the club won five team awards and four solo awards, including junior co-president Madi King’s first place in the junior solo competition.
UD Irish Dance is open to all students, offering competition opportunities for experienced performers to lessons for beginners. The club also performs throughout the year at events around greater Dayton, notably around St. Patrick’s Day. UD alum Megan Dunn Peters, a 2014 graduate, is the club’s coach.
Although the club launched in 2007, the growing popularity of Irish dance and increased opportunities for collegiate competition has made UD Irish Dance a draw for prospective students as well as current Flyers. Baldwin said she’s spoken to incoming students who said the club was among the reasons they came to UD, and four students starting their first year this fall have already expressed their interest in joining.