Irish group wins cheerleading world title in US

An Irish cheerleading team has clinched the world championship title in the US.

The Strike Force All Star Cheerleading programme, based in Finglas West and founded in 2008, has made history by winning a world championship title at the prestigious All Star World Championships in Orlando, Florida.

The group of 17 girls won the senior title on Friday night before a large crowd. Far removed from the traditional image of sideline cheerleading, competitive cheer is a high-energy sport combining fast-paced gymnastics, acrobatics, and intricate choreography.

Teams compete nationally and internationally, judged on athleticism, skill, technique, and performance quality.

Strike Force Cheer is home to over 100 athletes, aged four to 30, with a strong female representation and a growing number of male members. From humble beginnings in local community centres, the club now trains out of its current facility in New Cross College, Finglas West, Dublin 11.

Like many clubs, Strike Force was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, facing significant drops in participation as cheerleading did not fall under permitted sports during restrictions. Despite these challenges, club founder and Finglas native Shannon O’Reilly rebuilt the programme from the ground up, turning it into Ireland’s most successful all-star cheerleading team.

Ms O’Reilly, alongside her dedicated coaching team, led 38 athletes across two teams to compete at the All-Star World Championships, held from April 15th to 18th. Both teams qualified through national championship victories over the past year.

The junior team, Strike Force Deja Blue, returned to the world stage after a third-place finish in 2024, this time climbing even higher to secure the silver medal in their