Veronica Lilja

Veronica Lilja began Irish dancing at the age of 3 and had tremendous competitive success at a young age. Under the instruction of Tim O’Hare, she qualified and competed at 8 consecutive World championships as a solo dancer. Her most notable accomplishments include winning the Mid-America Oireachtas, placing 3rd at the North American Irish Dance Championships, and medaling at the World Championships.

After her competitive career, Veronica performed with the Baltimore, Fort Worth, Ottowa, Knoxville, and North Carolina Symphonies in the show "Celtic Celebration". After working alongside Tim for several years, she found her true passion in teaching. In 2013, Veronica was awarded the esteemed TCRG certification in Limerick, Ireland and brought the O'Hare School to the Lake Bluff Park District and the Lake Forest Recreation Center. In 2017, she further expanded the school by opening a third location at the Libertyville Sports Complex.

In January 2019, Veronica opened her own O'Hare Irish Dance studio in Lake Bluff. That same year, the school faced devastation when losing its mentor and founder, Tim O’Hare. Veronica is honored and proud to carry on Tim’s legacy. She recently received the 2024 “Global Excellence in Teaching” award from Irish Dancing Magazine.

Veronica currently resides in Lake Bluff with her husband, Matt, and their 2 young children Cassidy and Corey.