Ann Richens A.D.C.R.G., R.I.P.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our much loved friend and colleague, Ann Richens ADCRG. Ann maiden name Farrell who hailed from Cabra in Dublin, emigrated as a young girl over fifty years ago, first spending time in Washington DC, with a plan to go to Australia if she did not succeed in the United States. However, while working at the Irish Embassy in Washington, where she first tried her hand at passing on her dancing skills to members of staff there, she met a young military man from Ohio named Jack Richens.

This partnership saw her settle in Dayton, Ohio, where, supported by Jack, she introduced the Midwest of America to Irish Dancing. Before departing for the US Ann had been a student of Inis Ealga, founded and directed by the late and much lamented Maitiu O’Maoileidigh. In that establishment she met Marie Duffy, later to become a partner in Inis Ealga among other roles, and they developed a lifelong friendship. Ann qualified as both a TCRG and as an ADCRG in 1972, and founded the Richens School of Irish Dance based in Dayton, Ohio. Her teaching region also included nearby Columbus, twin city of Dublin, Ohio, where she founded The Columbus Feis which has been in existence now for some thirty-one years.

She was the prime mover in the establishment almost twenty-five years ago of the Dublin, Ohio, Irish Festival which is now second in only to Milwaukee Irish Festival, and which takes place in conjunction with the Feis on the first weekend of August each year. In recent years she teamed up with her World Champion student, John Timm, and together with John’s wife, Heather and several of her former students, they formed the very successful Richens Timm Academy. She was elected 10th President of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America, and served as a member of An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha for several years, including a period as a Vice President. She was also inducted into the NAFC Hall of Fame. As an examiner and member of the Udaras Scrudaithe  Examination Authority  she has played a major part in the shaping of An Coimisiun world wide.

In 2010 many of us had the privilege of celebrating Ann’s 70th birthday with her and her family in Dublin. Sadly Ann is the second member of her family to die since that joyous occasion, having lost one of her sisters soon after that.

To her husband, Jack, her daughter Mary Ann, and her son, Chris, we extend our sincere sympathy on her passing. Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam dilis.

A memorial Mass for Ann will be held in the Church of the Most Precious Blood, Cabra West, Dublin 7, Ireland on October 29th 2011.

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