History

History

A Portrait of Mary Duffy

Click to enlarge James and May Duffy

Mary Bridget Whelan was born on the 6th of August on Chancery St. in Dublin, Ireland. She was the only daughter of six children born to Joseph and Josephine (Kenny) Whelan. A love of music was instilled in Mary at a very young age, as both her mother and grandmother were accomplished Irish Violinists.

Chrisy Fagen, the family maid, exposed May to Irish step dancing when she was a small child. May's first formal dance teacher was Mrs. McCarthy on Parnell Street in Dublin. Later she continued dance under the instruction of Cora Kavanaugh and Evelyn O'Connor in Ireland.

May studied piano and music theory at the Dublin Conservatory of Music. She became proficient in the violin while practicing under Thomas McKenna, a first violinist with the Irish Symphony Orchestra and received her certification in violin from the London College of Music in 1939.

In 1940, May attended Dublin Technical College where she learned the art of tailoring. May also became skilled in the art of knitting and crocheting. She has since created hundreds of intricate Irish dance costumes, lace collars and cuffs, and several professional quality Irish fisherman's knit sweaters.

On January 10, 1945, Mary Whelan wed James Duffy, an American serviceman, in Belfast Ireland. In August of 1946, May traveled to the United States aboard the USS Alexander to join her husband who had already come to America with the US Army. Mr. and Mrs. Duffy settled in Hartford CT and Mary received her United States Citizenship on July 11, 1952. Sadly Jim Duffy passed away on July 20, 2004. They were married for 59 years

It was in 1958 that May began her career as and Irish step dancing teacher. She started teaching with Mary Butler at the Irish American Home on Grove ST. in Hartford and at the VFW in Windsor. Mary and May taught together for several years, but eventually Mary left and May Duffy continued on with her own school. Thus, the Duffy Academy was born.

Throughout the years, May opened schools in many Connecticut towns including: Glastonbury, East Hartford, Manchester, Tolland, Enfield, Waterford, Norwich, New London and Somers. She also held classes at various locations in Springfield and Chicopee, Massachusetts. In addition to Irish step dancing, this literal "teacher of teachers" became an instructor of piano and violin.

Under May's direction, the Duffy Academy has performed at countless schools, hospitals, malls and businesses as well as civic and cultural events. Often these shows are donated to the interest of preserving and fostering Irish culture in this country. The school has performed at such prominent establishments as the Bushnell, the Goodspeed Opera House, The Connecticut State Capital, The United States Coast Guard Academy and the Hartford Civic Center. The Duffy Academy has shared the stage with such distinguished musical groups as the Wolfe Tones, The Clancy Brothers, and Eileen Ivers.

May is both TCRG (Certified Irish Dance Teacher) (first in North America) and ADCRG (certified Irish Dance Adjudicator). She is a long-standing member of the Irish Dance Teacher's Commission in Dublin, Ireland, and the North American Irish Dance Teacher's Association and the New England Regional Dance Teacher's Association.

Among the many awards and honors May has received, perhaps one of her most treasured was having been chosen as the Deputy Grand Marshall of the 1988 Hartford Saint Patrick's Day Parade. Mr. Duffy also had a similar honor bestowed upon him. He was named Grand Marshal of the 1995 Saint Patrick's Day Parade in recognition of the many contributions he has made to the Hartford area's Irish Community.

May resides in East Hartford, Connecticut. She has six children, seventeen grandchildren and six great grandchildren.