Praise for world champion Irish dancer Lauren, 11

Lauren, a pupil at St John’s Primary School, has been dancing since she was four years old and has taken part in many different competitions in Ireland and England.

She won the All Ireland Championships in 2010 and went onto dance in Berlin Germany in April last year.

The 11-year-old was placed second in both the WIDA European and World Championships, and this year she has won the Leinster and Ulster CRDM Championship titles. She qualified again for Germany this year, where she danced in Dusseldorf and won the title of World and European under 12 champion. Lauren is a member of the Royal Tara Dance Academy.

Coast Road Councillor Morrow said: “It is wonderful that the village of Carnlough and the borough of Larne can claim a World and European Champion. Lauren’s sisters Emma and Sophie also danced in Dusseldorf and did really well.

“Irish dancing and Scottish Country dancing are hugely popular on all sides of the community throughout the borough and the achievements of our young people deserve the widest recognition.”