Judy McCafferty, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, recently relocated to Maumelle, Arkansas from Pine Bluff, Arkansas where she had lived since 1997 with her husband P.J. and daughter Megan (a fourth generation Irish dancer). She began her teaching career in Akron, Ohio in 1971. The McCafferty School eventually had classes in Cleveland and later in Houston, Texas. As a student, Judy had a successful career as a champion Irish dancer. She not only won numerous championships throughout the Midwest and Canada but was a competitor at the first North American Oireachtas and at Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne (World Championships).

Ms. Judy, as she is known to her students, was a founding member of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America . She worked on the committee to hold the first Midwest Regional Oireachtas as well as being involved in holding the first North American Oireachtas ever held outside of metropolitan New York, thereby establishing the rotation basis for the present day North American Championships . Certified by the Commission of Irish Dancing in Dublin, Ireland as a qualified teacher of Traditional Irish Dancing, at the age of 24 she was honored with the privilege of sitting for her adjudicators exam. An adjudicator of Irish Dance is one who is qualified to judge Irish Dance competitions which are registered with The Commission.

Upon their relocation to Pine Bluff, P.J. and Judy McCafferty found such an interest in Irish Dance that in 1997, the McCafferty School of Irish Dance was established in Arkansas. Judy now holds weekly classes in Fayetteville, Little Rock and Fort Smith for both children and adults. Under Judy's direction, the families of the McCafferty Arkansas Schools began hosting the Little Rock Feis in 2001.

Dancers taught and trained by Judy McCafferty have won regional championships and have competed for North American and World Championships. Former McCafferty students have appeared in Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. Many also now hold their teaching and adjudicators certifications.

The Fayetteville class began when a lady named Linda Hornaday learned that Judy McCafferty had moved to Arkansas and had opened a dance school in Little Rock. Linda invited Judy to conduct a dance workshop in the Fayetteville area. Judy agreed to conduct two workshops during the summer months of 2000.

Due to the terrific response and lots of interest in a certified teacher in Fayetteville, Judy agreed to open a branch of the McCafferty School of Irish Dance in the Northwest Arkansas area that fall. In September 2000 the Fayetteville branch was born!