39 Mae and June Butler
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- Mary Josephine “Mae” McDonnell BUTLER learned her dancing in her native Dublin from Maggie Kane.
- Mae and husband Paddy Butler arrived in Toronto in 1953 with their sons Michael, Patrick Jr. and daughter June.
- Irish dancing was almost non-existent at the time, but Mae went on to establish an Irish dancing empire in Toronto. She was the only TCRG in Toronto in 1953.
- After arriving, Mae opened an Irish Dancing School in Toronto where authentic Irish Dancing was taught in its true and traditional manner. Both Mae and Paddy were instrumental in revolutionizing Irish Dancing in Canada and throughout North America.
- Each were held in very high esteem among their fellow teachers, parents and students and this is epitomized by the refinement and perfection they projected through their highly trained dancers who competed with honour and excellence throughout North America and Ireland.
- The Butlers, to their credit, produced many champion dancers, (including their son, Patrick Jr. and their daughter, June R.I.P.) teachers and World Champions along with winners of the very coveted North American Feis Commission belt.
- In 1964, Mae Butler travelled to New York to become one of the founding members of IDTANA (Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America)
- Patrick Joseph Butler retired from the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) was a TMFR and renowned Irish Musician died June 27, 1999 in Toronto.
- Mae Butler died in Toronto on January 16, 2003 was a Life long Vice President of the Irish Dancing Commission.
- June Butler died June 19, 2003.
- Mae served as Vice President of Án Coimisiún located in Dublin Ireland and was a moving force in the Canadian and North American Irish Dance Teachers’ Association.
- In 1982 Mae was inducted into the Irish Cultural Hall of Fame by The North American Feis Commission. This partnership certainly exceeded boundaries in Traditional Irish Dancing. There seemed to be no end to the efforts of Mae Butler. In her eyes, what was not done was only what she had not yet attempted to do.
- Today people of Irish heritage humbly express their appreciation to Mae and Paddy Butler. Their memory will live on forever in their children through Irish Dancing and Music.
- The Ireland Monument Committee express thanks to Rose Johnson TCRG Toronto and Terri Heckmann TCRG Vancouver for their assistance in the preparation of this biography.