Law graduate Zara is also a talented Irish dancer, having danced for just short of 17 years.  

As if studying for her final year Law exams wasn’t enough of a challenge, in March of this year Zara headed to Glasgow to compete in the Ladies World Irish Dancing Championships.   

Zara was awarded first place in the 21-23 age category, beating 120 other dancers to the prize.  

Zara, who has been Irish dancing since the age of four, has been training 5-7 days a week for the last year in preparation for the 2024 World Championships where she performed in five rounds over two days.   

As well as her first place win in the 21-23 category, she was also placed first in the Dance Drama competition alongside 19 other dance students from her dance school ‘Carson Academy.’  

Speaking about how she juggles her academic studies with her competitive dancing career, Zara said:  

“Scheduling and holding yourself accountable was the key to being able to balance my studies and Irish dancing. It was also really important that I was doing something I loved because that was where most of my inspiration came from.   

 “If I was doing it for someone else I never would have achieved what I did or had the motivation. Consistency was also key, as if I did not stick to my scheduling for my studies my training would fall behind, and vice versa.”  

Following graduation Zara plans to join an Irish dancing touring company before pursuing a law career. She said:  

 “I would like to pursue a career fighting for the rights of those who don't have voices. I am very passionate about human rights issues and equality.”  

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