MICHAEL's IRELAND
National Concert Hall (NCH) - venue of the Mayo 5000 concert, June 1993, from
which the original 7-minute Riverdance was born. Here also Michael danced at the
Irish TV Awards December 1995 and gave first glimpse of Lord of the Dance. In
December 1997 at the same event, also at the NCH, he received the award for Lord
of the Dance as Performance of the Year.
Conrad Hotel - opposite the NCH. Michael stayed here for the 1995 Awards performance.
The
Point Theatre - Historic site of the opening run of Riverdance the Show in 1995,
also the opening of Lord of the Dance in 1996, and the first Dublin performance
of Celtic Tiger in 2006.
Originally
a railway depot, the building dates from 1878, and was restored and developed
as an exhibition centre and theatre thanks to the vision and determination of
Michael's close friend and supporter, Harry Crosbie. One of the theatre's two
bars bears his name 'Harry's Bar'. Without the Point, Dublin would have no venue
suitable to host many of the major shows and events.
The
Point's location on the River Liffey inspired composer Bill Whelan to come up
with the name 'Riverdance'.