He also just about remembers the famous post-show parties!Īll the above contributors will share their Riverdance memories with Deirdre Mulrooney in this programme, produced by Bernadette Comerford.
Robbie Harris, who plays bodhrán and percussion, remembers meeting an amazing cross-section of musicians while working with Riverdance in New York. Ken Edge, a classically-trained saxophonist who played regularly with the National Symphony Orchestra, discovered the joys of making music with traditional musicians. Now she herself is studying physiotherapy in Edinburgh.
Michelle Buffini joined the company at 18, loved it, and became fascinated by the work of the physiotherapists who worked on keeping the dancers in top form. But then the offer to join Riverdance came along and now he, his two brothers and his sister all make their living from Irish dancing - something they wouldn't even have thought possible before Riverdance came along. Michael Pat Gallagher from Donegal was doing the Leaving in 1994, and planning to study law. She came back home, joined Riverdance, saw 24 countries in nine years and became principal dancer with the Liffey company. Alongside the hard work that made the show a huge success with audiences worldwide, there were the legendary parties, Riverdance romances, Riverdance marriages, and Riverdance babies - including at least one set of twins.ĭancer Joanne Doyle remembers watching the 1994 Eurovision on television in Slovenia, and wishing she was up there on stage with the dancers. Canal: RTÉ Radio Player: Most Popular Podcasts. Programa: RTÉ Radio Player: Most Popular Podcasts. and the golden talent of Patrick Scott with Conall Hamill, Jody Clarke, Lani OHan. Angels and sponge cakes high notes and high ambition. They've travelled with the show to the US, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Japan, Mexico, and China. Escucha y descarga los episodios de RTÉ Radio Player: Most Popular Podcasts gratis. She has contributed frequently to RTE Sunday Miscellany, and has authored multifarious Arts journalism and writing over many years in top publications. Moya Doherty had the original idea, the dream became reality with the help of composer Bill Whelan, and that original seven-minutes grew under the guidance of director John McColgan into Riverdance - The Show.ĭeirdre Mulrooney has been talking to some of the musicians and dancers whose lives have been transformed by Riverdance. It went on to become one of the most talked-about music and dance extravaganzas the world had ever seen. Channel: RTÉ Radio Player: Most Popular Podcasts. Podcast: RTÉ Radio Player: Most Popular Podcasts. Playwright Brian Friel remembered: marking the current production of Faith Healer at the Abbey Theatre and the recent RTÉ television documentary.
One magical evening in April 1994, a seven-minute piece called Riverdance was performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. Listen and download RTÉ Radio Player: Most Popular Podcasts’s episodes for free.