Born on 8 October 1945 to John-Joe and Eileen Lally, she grew up in Withington, Manchester, alongside her siblings Eileen, Michael, Rose and Kathleen. She attended St Cuthbert’s School before continuing her education at the Hollies Convent Grammar School in Fallowfield.

Throughout her childhood and adult life, she spent many summers in Ireland, visiting her father’s homestead in Peterswell, County Galway, and her mother’s family in New Ross, County Wexford.

At five years old, she joined her siblings at the Gaelic League to learn Irish dancing under the guidance of Margaret O’Neal, a warm and encouraging teacher whose natural style and good carriage greatly influenced the family.

The siblings competed successfully in feiseanna throughout the North West of England and Ireland, winning numerous medals and trophies. They performed at St Patrick’s Day exhibitions at the Free Trade Hall and Houldsworth Hall, as well as at the International Dance Festival alongside dancers from countries including Ukraine.

When Eileen was 18, she and Rose established their own classes, with Kathleen and their younger sister as their first pupils. This marked the beginning of the Lally School of Irish Dancing.

Classes were held in Irish clubs, church halls and schools across Greater Manchester. When Rose retired to raise her family, she began assisting Eileen, starting her teaching career at Gorton Monastery aged 19.

In 1970, she married her husband, John Dixon. They lived in Didsbury before moving to Heaton Mersey in 1982. Alongside her dancing career, she worked for NatWest Bank in Manchester for 30 years as a secretary and assistant to the Personnel Manager.

She taught with Eileen for 50 years, later joined by Kathleen. Together, they trained dancers who achieved numerous honours, including World and All-Ireland Championship titles. Their successful pupils included nieces Caroline, Angela, Anne, Jane and Claire Usher, all North West Regional Champions who competed at the highest international level.

The school also achieved considerable success in Dance Drama, winning World titles in 1994 and again several years later in Glasgow. These accomplishments were supported by their nieces and Claire’s husband, Jonathan McMorrow.

Former pupils Claire Usher and Ciara Kennedy joined the cast of Riverdance, performing on Broadway and touring worldwide. World Champion James Keegan became lead dancer in Lord of the Dance and also toured internationally.

In 2019, she and Eileen made the difficult decision to retire. They celebrated with a retirement party and reunion before proudly handing the school to James and Louise Keegan, who continue its Irish dancing tradition in Manchester.

She is deeply proud and humbled to receive this award, which she dedicates to her family—particularly her parents, Eileen and John-Joe Lally—her sister Kathleen Lomax and her dancing teacher, Margaret O’Neal.