Dubliner Niamh O’Connor holds the record for performing with Riverdance the longest; she’s been touring with the famous show since the day it premiered in the capital city in 1995. This July, Niamh will (hopefully) be part of another Riverdance record and this time, she’s inviting you along.
As part of Riverdance – The Gathering, people – yes, that means you too – can put on their dancing shoes, line up along the banks of the River Liffey in Dublin and attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the Longest Riverdance Line, which was set in Nashville, USA, by 652 dancers.
All you have to do is learn a few simple steps and you can join O’Connor, her husband Padraic Moyles – one of Riverdance’s principal male dancers – and other stars from the show in attempting to break the record on 21 July. And if you’re not up for step dancing along the quays, you’re of course welcome to cheer on the others for what is sure to be a fun and historic day.
The record attempt is just one part of an exciting week of events for Riverdance – The Gathering.There will be a free family fun day at Merrion Square on 20 July, with facepainting, bouncy castles, food and plenty of music and dance. The day includes Riverdance – The Gathering Ceili, led by the show’s dancers and musicians. Then it concludes with a special live performance by the cream of Riverdance musicians playing to a big-screen backdrop of the show’s highlights taken from recordings in Dublin, New York, Geneva, and Beijing over its long history.
