Unateresa Sheahan Gormley

Unateresa Gormley is a first-generation Irish American, keeping strong ties to her Irish roots. Born to a Co. Longford mother, Teresa McNamee and a Co. Kerry father, Michael Sheahan. The Sheahan family were well-known in the Bronx for their passion for all things Irish, as well as for their involvement in the N.Y. community. They all were involved in the church, in Irish dancing, Irish music, football and the community.

A dancer at the age of three, with the Anna O’Sullivan School of Dancing, Unteresa won her first open championship at the age of eight, traveling to Ireland every year to take part in feisanna all over the country.

From the age of 11, she placed sixth at the Oireachtas and qualified for the World Dancing Championships. She won third place in the violin in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ireland and recorded a record with her band GlenCastle Céilí Band, under Martin Mulvihill  & Mick Maloney, producers of the acclaimed program, “A Living Tradition”.

Dancing and music were in Unateresa's blood, part of her being, part of her soul, but her greatest achievement in Irish dancing is being a teacher and having the opportunity to share her culture, traditions and talents with the younger generations of today. According to Unateresa, "The younger generation is diverse, and to see their willingness to learn and to watch their accomplishments is very rewarding".

Unateresa began her teaching career at the age of 16, and taught for several Irish cultural societies, including The Irish American Society of Tom’s River, The Sons and Daughters of Saint Patrick, The Middletown Irish American Association, and the Greenwood Lake Gaelic Cultural Society. Eventually, she opened her own school in the Bronx after she took her TCRG exam and became a qualified teacher registered in her region, nationally and for An Coimisiun in Dublin. According to Unteresa, “There are always challenges when you start a new venture, but none too great when you have determination and dedication and the will to follow your dreams. Challenge is what makes you a stronger person, whatever the obstacles.”

Unateresa is a loving wife to her very supportive husband, Sam Gormley, Omagh, Co. Tyrone and mother to her beautiful son, Shea Anthony. They moved to Greenwood Lake over 25 years ago and made the Hudson Valley their home. Unateresa is a NYSL Therapist, Certified Dance teacher and Dance Therapist. Unateresa is a board member and part-owner of sports facilities - a board member of the Celtic Irish American Academy in Galway, a board member of LAOH Orange County NY and LAOH Division 5, and also plays a number of other roles in her community.  Unateresa and Sam were a host family for young children who were placed in their care through the U.S. based Project Children, which brings children from Northern Ireland to America for much-needed vacations. As part of the peace process, they are more recently hosting and sponsoring several young adult interns from Ireland participating in the Project Children Internship Program.

Unateresa is the owner of The Sheahan-Gormley School Of Irish Dance, CEO & Cultural Director of Big Apple Feis & Fleadh, Cultural Director of the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut and Florida Rose Of Tralee Centers and Founder of Irish American Young Leaders, which send Irish Americans to Ireland to the Gaeltacht in Donegal, The Famine Summer School at the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park in County Roscommon, the Fusion Fighters Irish Dance Camp, and Fusion Dance Fest in Limerick, and The Celtic Irish American Academy Summer Program in Galway.

Unateresa Gormley is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Professional in the field of the Performing Arts as a result of her role as Director and Chief Executive Officer with USG International Dance Presenters. USG Performing Art Presenters is dedicated to bringing performing artists and audiences together in every place and way imaginable. They achieve this goal by providing visionary thinking, professional development, resource sharing and advocacy in support of their colleagues and all those who create and disseminate the performing arts. USG Performing Art Presenters is dedicated to promoting, presenting, and producing first-rate performing arts for young audiences. They believe it is the beauty and athleticism of Irish Dance and the common Celtic heritage that binds the peoples of Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Australasia together. Unateresa is committed to building bridges of culture, commerce, education and friendship between the United States and Ireland.

She was an Ambassador for Tourism Ireland from 2011 to 2015, is a Founding Member of The Big Apple Feis & Fleadh Performing Arts Presenters, and is associated with programs such as Project Children, the Greenwood Lake Gaelic Cultural Society, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish Business Organization of NY, Irish Arts Center, An Coimisium Le Rince Gaelicta, North American Feis Commission, IDTANA Mid-Atlantic Region, Sports Fitness and Fun, New York Celtic Music Group, NY Entrepreneurs Business Network, Aspiring Entrepreneurs, Proud of Your Irish Heritage, Irish International Business Network, Irish Network USA & NY, and more that she supports year round.

The Greenwood Lake Gaelic Cultural Society chose Sam and Unateresa Gormley as the 2005 "Celts of the Year." In addition, Unateresa participated in the first ever New York/New Belfast Conference in New York City, and still participates and was the recipient of the Irish Woman of the Year Award in 2007, in which she received a letter from the President of Ireland in recognition for her successes.

The Irish Echo presented Unateresa in 2017 with The Irish Echo Community Champion Award. According to Unateresa, “Our greatest challenge in life is to give as much of ourselves as we can. We can do that by helping others in need, opening a door and making a difference in a child’s life. Be true to yourself and life’s rewards are unending”.