Caitrin Academy Dancers Support Boston Victim

Wearing a “Philadelphia Irish Dancers Love Jane” shirt, Kristen Mahoney and Meaghan Riley, of the Caitrin Academy of Irish Dance in the Trappe Shopping Center, showed their support for Jane Richard, 7, a budding Irish dancer who lost her leg during the Boston Marathon bombing.

Jane’s older brother, Martin, 8, was one of three people killed. Her mother, Denise, was also injured.

Jane was a student of Irish dance at the Clifden Academy in Milton, Mass., and many local Irish dance groups have been working to raise money for the Richard Family Fund, coordinated by Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade Director Michael Bradley, Sheila Sweeney of the McDade-Cara School of Irish Dance, and John Dougherty, of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 98.

“As someone who teaches 100 students a week, it’s just so hard to fathom,” Sweeney told IrishPhiladelphia.com. “When you look at these little girls, they’re so sweet, so innocent. I’m just happy to see all the Irish dance schools coming together for this cause.”