Wisconsin’s Longest-Running Irish Dance School
The history of Cashel Academy is deeply intertwined with the history of the Milwaukee Irish community. The Shamrock Club of Wisconsin was founded in 1960. They started a dance school in Milwaukee. When the teacher of the Shamrock Club Dancers left the area, the school split in two.
Mark Howard from Chicago took over teaching the children that danced for the Shamrock Club; meanwhile, the adult dancers from the Shamrock Club hired Dennis Dennehy from Chicago to teach them.
This adult group would become Cashel Academy, and the first beginner class began in January of 1983.
The first beginner classes were held at St. Matthews Ev. Lutheran Church at 1615 N Wauwatosa Ave.
Future owner Kate Habel (nee Walrath) was enrolled in the inaugural beginner class, along with her brother Michael.
Cashel Academy was a parent-run organization for many years. Denis Dennehy taught the students with his wife Marge Dennehy and daughter, Kathy Dennehy. Denis later retired from teaching, and Kathy continued with the dance school until 2019.
Laura Gottschlich received her TCRG in 1996 and Kate Habel received hers in 1998.
in 2010, our ladies team brought home our very first World Championship Ceili trophy, and then again in 2012 we won our SECOND World Irish Dance Championship in Belfast, Northern Ireland! We also took home a 3rd place for our under 16 mixed Ceili team, and our under 16 girls team took 20th at the same competition.
More recently we have moved to a new studio in the same building we have called home for many years. This gives us the benefit of having our own front door on Center street as well as a larger parent lounge for our families.
Today, Cashel is wholly owned by instructors Kate Habel and Laura Gottslisch, with more current and former students joining to help teach our dancers reach their full potential.