Oonagh Lynch Benson, TCRG is the director and instructor of the Athens location of the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance. Oonagh holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of Georgia and is currently a Retail Market Manager for Synovus Bank. In 2016, Oonagh passed her TCRG certification allowing her to teach Irish dance under An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha.

 

Oonagh started dancing at the age of 6 to keep in touch with her Irish heritage.  She has competed in various events throughout the United States and Ireland under the direction of Maureen McTeggart Hall, ADCRG in Lexington, KY and then under Karl Drake, ADCRG in Atlanta, Ga. Placing in the top 3 in the Southern Region Oireachtas Championships multiple times, Oonagh has qualified and competed in the North American Irish Dance Championships and World Irish Dancing Championships. She has also had the privilege to perform with the Chieftains, Eileen Ivers, the Irish Rovers and multiple other live musicians during her dancing career.

 

Oonagh enjoys teaching both competitive and performance Irish dance and is excited to share her Irish heritage with dancers though her love of Irish dance with the Carpenter Academy.