TAMPA, Fla. — Amanda Finnegan came to the United States from Ireland in 2016, only expecting to stay here for six months as she performed in a show.
Ten years later, she’s never left.
What You Need To Know
Amanda Finnegan moved to the U.S. from Ireland and founded Finnegan Academy of Irish Dance in Florida
Her academy has locations in Tampa, Orlando, and Lakewood Ranch
Finnegan promotes Irish culture through dance, and her dancers will perform at River O’Green, a St. Patrick’s Day event
In the decade after her arrival, Finnegan opened Finnegan Academy of Irish Dance. She has locations in Tampa, Orlando and Lakewood Ranch, where Finnegan and her instructors teach Irish dancing.
“It’s really important for me to promote Irish culture here in America,” Finnegan told Spectrum Bay News 9. “It’s the culture I grew up with. It’s the culture that is so loved here.”
Finnegan and her dancers will share that love on Saturday at River O’Green, an annual event in Tampa celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
Finnegan’s dancers will be performing for the third time.
“There’s just a love of the Irish culture here in America, which I really love and just gives me joy,” Finnegan said.
The dancers will perform at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday. The entire event, which includes the annual tradition of dyeing the Hillsborough River green, will run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Park.