Open air performances to attract thousands

TEN-thousand people are expected to attend two special performances of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance taking place at the world-famous Cliffs of Moher later this year.

The official launch of the event took place last Thursday at the tourist attraction. The recitals are to take place on September 1 and 2 and will represent the first open-air performances of the dance extravaganza.
The events coincide with the Cliffs of Moher’s campaign to be selected as one of the New7Wonders of Nature. The official list, which is also subject to a worldwide poll, will be declared on November 11, 2011 or 11-11-11.
The show features 40 precision dancers acting out the mythical Irish folk story of a battle between Don Dorcha, the Lord of Darkness, and the Lord of Light, also known as the Lord of the Dance.
Local musicians Michael O’Connell, Hugh Healy and friends with special guest, folk legend Finbar Furey and the world-famous Kilfenora Céilí Band, will share the finale with the Lord of the Dance troupe at the top of the Cliffs of Moher.
Commenting on the open-air spectacle, which is billed as the ‘Edge Of The World Experience’, Oliver O’Connell of MPO Promotions Limited, the company behind the event, stated, “These unique, open-air performances will give families an opportunity to enjoy probably one of the best shows in the world in comfort, close up to the stage at the iconic Cliffs of Moher”.
“The performing arts are the most productive vehicle for promoting tourism-related products in Ireland and the benefits for the local economy from this once-in-a-lifetime production are significant.
“It is envisaged that all hotels, guest houses and hostels in the region will be fully occupied and already there are groups in America and Canada preparing holiday packages in Clare to coincide with this event. We have received interest already from two groups planning charter flights to Shannon for this concert,” Mr O’Connell continued.
Tickets for the dance show went on sale on Tuesday via Ticketmaster. Mr O’Connell warned that early enquiries are strong and anyone hoping to go along should purchase their tickets immediately.
Geraldine Enright, sales and marketing manager for the Cliffs of Moher, pointed out that the upcoming performances will provide an opportunity for people to witness one of the most talked about entertainment shows being performed at a unique Irish location.
“The Lord of The Dance performances take place less than two months before the announcement of the New7Wonders of Nature. The Cliffs of Moher has been shortlisted along with 27 other sites around the world, including the Amazon Rainforest, Table Mountain, Black Forest, Vesuvius, Galapagos Islands, The Great Barrier Reef and The Grand Canyon.
“We are the only Irish entry remaining in the competition and the potential benefits for Ireland are enormous, particularly for Irish tourism, bringing in thousands of additional visitors to the country each year,” Ms Enright added.