Castlederg dance champion 'privileged and proud' to be awarded BEM

A CASTLEDERG woman whose life’s work has helped generations find confidence, joy and belonging through dance has been described as “a golden nugget of sunshine” after receiving national recognition in this year’s King’s Honours.

Carmel Garvey, dancer-in-residence and choreographer with Arts Care - a pioneering arts, health and wellbeing charity – has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her outstanding services to dance across the North.

Speaking after the announcement, Carmel said the honour was beyond anything she had ever imagined.

“Words cannot express the privilege and pride I feel having been awarded this incredible accolade. It is just beyond my dreams,” she said.

“Over the past 40 years, my work and the people I have danced with - young and old - have brought me great joy. I have been very privileged to do the work I do.”

Carmel’s passion for dance began at a young age and grew alongside her love of musical theatre. Over the decades she has built an exceptional career spanning dance training, performance, directing and choreography, earning numerous prestigious awards along the way.

A graduate of the University of Limerick, Carmel achieved a First Class Honours Master of Arts in Dance in 2020. Her studies focused on inclusive dance practice within health and social care settings, reflecting a lifelong commitment to using movement as a tool for wellbeing, connection and expression.

She also trained with internationally renowned choreographers, including Ray Jeffreys and Royston Maldoom, before going on to establish the Castlederg Dance Company. Under her guidance, the company achieved remarkable success, performing at London’s Royal Albert Hall and being crowned UK champions for three consecutive years.

After further training in performing arts, health, fitness, yoga, meditation and Laban Dance, Carmel began to fuse her healthcare background with education, environmental themes and inclusive practice.

As dancer-in-residence with Arts Care, she now choreographs and directs four dance companies, creating powerful work that places inclusion at its heart and gives a voice to those who are so often unheard.

“Dance is a wonderful tool to cross all barriers,” Carmel said. “It embraces inclusive practice and supports overall health and wellbeing.”

News of her BEM sparked an outpouring of affection and admiration on social media, with many people sharing stories of how Carmel had touched their lives.

In a deeply personal tribute, one of her children paid tribute to both her professional achievements and her strength as a mother.

“Mum raised six of us on her own after my dad died in an accident when I was eight,” they wrote.

“When she returned to her work, I watched her make the impossible happen - huge performances with hundreds of people on stage, many with disabilities. But mum never saw disability, she saw the person, and she taught everyone around her to do the same.

“The King of England may be recognising mum with a BEM today, but we’ve always known how brilliant she is. Dad would be so proud.”

Others recalled Carmel’s impact in schools, community halls and theatres across the region - building confidence in shy children, inspiring young dancers who would go on to establish their own companies, and transforming lives through kindness and creativity.

“She deserves this so much,” wrote one contributor. “We always knew she was special anyway. It’s just lovely to see the wider world now recognise what we have always known in our community.”

For Castlederg and far beyond, Carmel Garvey’s BEM is more than an award - it is a celebration of a lifetime spent lifting others, one dance at a time.