Kilcullen Diary: KILCULLEN SISTERS' MEDALS HAUL IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OF PERFORMING ARTS

DID YOU KNOW?

The Latin for traffic jam is fluxus interclusio. It's not generally known that the Vatican constantly updates the dormant language in a special dictionary, Lexicon Recentis Latinitatis, combining classical root words to describe modern actions, events, and inventions. Among them, jogging (cursus pedester) and fog lights (pharus adversus nebulam). Latin serves as the official working language of Vatican City, and papal decrees, official laws, and the Code of Canon Law are first written and published in Latin.

Saturday, September 05, 2026

KILCULLEN SISTERS' MEDALS HAUL IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OF PERFORMING ARTS

Photos courtesy Liam Raftery.

Three Kilcullen sisters who took part in the World Championships of Performing Arts in Las Vegas brought home a total of 23 world medals across solo, trio and group dance, vocals and variety acts. Sofia (12), Nicole (10) and Lara (8) Raftery also won the overall Junior Ethnic Dance Division Award.

The three were proud members of 29 talented performers representing Team Ireland during an unforgettable 12-day trip in July. In total, the Irish team brought home 197 medals. WCOPA is the premier global talent competition, often cited as the official ‘Talent Olympics’ of the performing arts world. Managed by Worldstars International, it is where elite performers from over 70 countries compete in front of top industry judges, talent scouts, and producers.

Among the Raftery sisters' medals haul were Sofia's Gold for Dance Acro and Bronze for Dance Ethnic, Nicole's Gold for Dance Open, and Lara's Golds for Variety Act Contortion and Dance Musical Theatre. As a trio they also won Golds for Vocal World, Dance Ethnic, and Variety Act Contortion, as well as scoring a semi-final medal in four different acts, and several invitations for meetings with professional agents. As members of the overall Team Ireland they contributed to wins of Silver for Vocal Open Group and Bronze for the Grand Final Group Vocal.

The Raftery sisters were coached by Katie and Niamh Conlan of the KNC Performing Arts Company, which led Team Ireland. Their family has expressed their gratitude to the coaches for helping the girls achieve remarkable success. They also thanked sponsors and supporters Glanbia, Marsh, Moreton & Company, Kildare Credit Union Kilcullen, and Eurospar Kilcullen.