Celebrating Michael Flatley who helped bring Irish dancing to a new level and to audiences across the world.
Tom Farrelly the president of the Irish Dancing Commission and the only surviving member of the original commission from 1929. Now aged 93 Tom Farrelly is also the man who recognised the talent in a young Michael Flatley. He encouraged the young man that if he put in the work, he could be an Irish dancing champion.
You could be an Irish dancing champion one day.
Michael Flatley, the former star of Riverdance and now Lord of the Dance, is the guest of honour on 'The Late Late Show'. Accompanied by members of The Lord of the Dance company he performs 'War Lord'.
Photo by Des Gaffney
In June 1996, fresh from the success with 'Riverdance' at Eurovision, Michael Flatley opened 'Lord of the Dance' at the Point Theatre in Dublin. Lord of the Dance went on to become one of the show business success stories of the nineties. Three million people have seen the show live in Ireland, England, Canada, Australia and the United States. In the USA, Lord of the Dance ran for 13 sell out shows at Radio City Music Hall and was the top grossing touring show in the US in 1997. The dance troupe also performed at the Oscar ceremony reaching an audience of one billion viewers. In February 1998, 'Lord of the Dance' had record 28 sell out nights at Wembley Arena in London.
This episode of The Late Late Show was broadcast on 27 March 1998. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
