Port Glasgow Irish dancer Ainslee McDade coaches champions

Talented Ainslee McDade first started dancing at only three years old, devoting her teens to training almost every day of the week and culminating in her greatest achievement - fourth in the ultimate All Ireland Championships.

At the height of her own achievements the 25-year-old stepped off the stage to take on the local dancing school when her teacher retired, because she didn't want to let the dancers down.

Ainsley McDade (Image: George Munro)

Only three years later McDade School of Irish Dance has had a record number of World Champions and sparked a surge in the popularity of the traditional dance locally.

Modest Ainslee said: "To be honest for me it is not about the dancing, it is about the life lessons it gives you.

"The most important thing for me is not that the girls are winning, but that they are being kind to one another, supporting one another, and looking out for each other.

"We are like a family. I see myself as like a mum to the younger ones and a sister to the older ones.

"When I was dancing I probably saw my dancing teacher and friends more than I saw my own mum and dad.

"I want my dancers to be happy."

(Image: George Munro)

When she was younger, her former teacher Maureen Onesti singled Ainslee out for success in both dancing and teaching.

At the time she said Ainslee was a fab teacher with a flair for making up amazing dance choreography as well as having a great way with the dancers.

When Maureen decided to give up she encouraged Ainslee to take it on and she as not let her down.

Since taking over the dancing school, the McDade dancers have reached new heights at Irish Dancing Feis at home and abroad.

Her dancers have surpassed Ainslee's wildest dreams bringing home Scottish, British and Irish titles year after year.

Ainslee, who lives in Bute Avenue, said: "It was a big challenge to take on but if I didn't do it, there would be no Irish Dancing classes and I didn't want to let the girls down.

"I then decided to give up my own dancing and concentrate on teaching.

"At the same time I started uni as well, so it has been a big commitment. But I absolutely love it.

"When I was dancing myself I used to very much shrug off my own achievements and just move on.

"But now when the girls do well I am in tears and cheering them on. It means the world to me."

The former St Michael's and St Stephen's Primary pupil first started Irish dancing in her local community centre when she was a toddler.

She fell in love with it and continued it through her teens.

Ainslee said: "When I was in high school all my friends were going out and having fun and I was always dancing. But looking back I don't regret it, not one little bit.

"I have made friends for life through dancing and have had experiences I would never have had otherwise.

"One of my best friends is from Dundee, we met when were were competing and we go out together all the time.

"But Irish Dancing was not that popular when I was at school, there were hardly any of us. Now I can't take on any more girls.

"I have 45 and that is as many as I can take. I wouldn't be able to give the girls the attention they need."

There have been many highlights for Ainslee as a dancer and now running her own school.

But nothing beats the All Ireland Irish Dance Championships in Killarney.

She said: "It is incredible there, in Ireland they live and breath Irish dancing, the dancers can do moves at eight years old that some 16 years olds can't do."

Incredibly, Ainslee has achieved all of this while also studying social work at Glasgow Caledonian University.

In her third year Ainslee is ready for placements as she sets out on a career path to make a difference.

She said: "I started with a modern apprenticeship with Inverclyde Council when I left school. I have always wanted to work with children. At first I used to want to be a primary teacher.

"Then I had a placement in a nursery. I could see the situation a lot of families were in and I thought I want to help children in this way.

"The social workers were making a real difference.

"I decided that was the route I wanted to go down. I have a real passions for it."

Ainslee runs the school in studios in Greenock with help from her fellow instructors Heather Keen, 21, and Kerry McLean, 20.

Her parents Elaine and Brian have always been supportive along with her brothers Ciaran, 31, Declan, 28.