Local Irish Dancers Reach Out to Young Bombing Victim

The Nicholl School of Irish Dance has joined forces with the international Irish dance world to support a young victim of the Boston Marathon Bombing. Jane Richards, a 7-year-old aspiring Irish dancer, lost her leg in the bombing that claimed the life of her brother, Martin, and left her mother in serious condition.

The Nicholl School of Irish Dance, which is based in Yardley and has students from throughout Bucks County including Newtown, is one of more then 400 dance schools who have stepped up to support Jane.

Samantha Fleming, owner of the Nicholl School of Irish Dance, said she heard about Jane and knew the school had to do something. 

Through Facebook, she discovered, Wrapping Jane in Our Love—a page designed to invite Irish dance schools from all over the world to send their dance school t-shirt to be sewn together to make a blanket for Jane. 

Since the effort began just over a week ago, 430 dance schools throughout the world have agreed to send shirts and other items, including World Championship medals and sashes, to be sewn into the blanket. The blanket will be put together in Boston and presented to Jane this summer.

The Nicholl School of Irish dance also raised $600 during a dance recital raffle in April. The money will be sent directly to the Richards Family Fund.

“I can’t even imagine the pain and anguish this family has to endure during this difficult recovery,”  said Karyn Book of Newtown, who also has a 7-year-old Irish dancer.  “No family should have to go through this ordeal.  It just made sense to help in some way."

Fleming said she is very proud to be a part of the Irish dancing world for "coming together to make something good come out of something so tragic and senseless."

For more information on the Irish dance blanket project for Jane go to: “Wrapping Jane in our Love” on Facebook or visit www.nichollirishdancers.com