INVERCLYDE is now home to TWO reigning world champion Irish dancers for the very first time.
Port Glasgow dancing teacher Ainslee McDade took a top line-up with her onto the world stage in Killarney, County Kerry.
Following four days of competition she returned with Greenock superstars, 10-year-old Maycie McDevitt and seven-year-old Daisy Harkness, both crowned the best in the world.
It was a fantastic showing from the McDade School of Irish Dance with even more medals and comes only two years after the 23-year-old took on her own school.
Ainslee said: "I have been dancing for 20 years and it is unheard of to have two world champions.
"The girls are all fantastic. It was amazing to get two winners. Daisy is just brilliant."
The dancing teacher added: "Maycie has only started but from the very first time she came in, you could see she had something special."
Aileymill Primary school girl Maycie has only been dancing for two years but already holds the British title.
Her mum Dawn said: "We are so proud of her, it was such a great experience but we never imagined she would be world champion.
"She only started because I thought it would be good for her, and I love the Irish dancing costumes. Maycie and I even designed her costume ourselves for the first time."
Now Maycie joins an elite group of dancers awarded a World Irish Dance Association World Champion title following her success at the annual contest earlier this month.
Back home in Caithness Road, dad Shaun, her twin brother Leighton, and older sister Connie waited for news and were celebrating when the results came in.
Maycie said: "I really loved it, I just love Irish dancing. I wasn't even that nervous. I can't wait to compete again. I came home and went into school the next day and all my friends were excited."
Joining her in the winners line was Daisy Harkness, aged seven, from Greenock.
The St Ninian's Primary pupil, from Flatterton Lane, said: "I loved the experience, it was great in the parade. I love dancing, I have been Irish dancing since I was four years old. I love doing my kicks and my lead rounds.
"I practice all the time and I am always dancing in the living room for my family!"
Her mum Gemma, a district nurse in Port Glasgow, said: "It has been so emotional. We came off the plane at 3am and I was straight back to work in the morning.
"I was going in to see my patients, they were asking how Daisy got on, they were crying and I was crying. In my job you really get to know your patients.
"Ainslee is fantastic, she is young and so hands on. She gives them all one to one coaching."
There was also success across the board with seven-year-old Connie Guthrie finishing in 5th place in the same age group as Daisy.
Now both girls will be hoping to repeat their success with even more competitions to come.
They both dancing up to three times a week with Ainslee, who puts her heart and soul into the school.
Maycie's mum Dawn added: "Ainslee is a brilliant dance teacher and we can't thank her enough."
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