A RISHTON schoolgirl is preparing to fly across the globe to compete in the finals of the World Irish Dancing Championships.

The family of 13-year-old Sorcha Yates, who lives in Wharf Street, have been fundraising to raise the money needed to send her to Montreal in Canada.

One final event will be held at her former primary school tonight but with the flights and hotel now booked, the youngster is set to jet off on her adventure a week today.

Her dad Neil said: “We are holding a night of Irish music and dancing at St Charles’ Primary School in Knowles Street from 7pm.

“If that goes to plan, we will be in touching distance of where we need to be.

“The last event, at Rishton Golf Club last month, was really well attended and it exceeded expectations.”

The youngster qualified for the event after breaking into a well-established top six at the northern regional qualifiers in Oldham in November.

After flying to Canada, Sorcha will spend the weekend preparing before dancing on Monday.

Neil said: “She has been doing four classes a week and has been travelling to Wigan for extra.

“And with it being St Patrick’s Day this week, she has been out doing displays all over the place.

“She will even be going straight from the airport to Wigan.”

Sorcha fell in love with dancing at the age of three and has not stopped jigging.

Neil said: “Her pre-school teacher was also going to the World Irish Dancing Championships. The Lancashire Telegraph came to take a picture and Sorcha got dragged into it and picked it up, and it started there.”

Sorcha’s dance teacher from the Siobhan Clarke School of Irish Dancing, Siobhan Clarke, said: “Sorcha truly deserves her place on the world stage.”