We recently featured a story from the Mayo News here on Diddlyi about a high ranking officer from Comhaltas criticising Riverdance and it’s successes. You can read the original story here.

Seamus Duffy, secretary of Comhaltas in Mayo, had some pretty harsh words to say of the show and it’s creators. “There’s a lot of silly people in their absolute ignorance who do not know the difference between something Irish and something phoney. How they can claim that this show is Irish defies me. Irish music is a perfect entity and you can’t improve on perfection. I wouldn’t go across the road to see such rubbish …. even if they laid on transport for me.”

This fellow seems to have his mind set on this opinion. I suppose it is troubling to me as he seems to judge those who have taken joy from experiencing Riverdance as much as those who present it to us.

There is no doubt that Broadway sensibilities power shows like Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. It is these sensibilities I believe that keep us at the edge of our seat and make the hairs stand up on the back of our necks. This is not belittling these feelings but acknowledging the magic centuries of showmanship can instill upon an already enthralling tradition.

Mr. Duffy continues by saying, “Look, this music is not within the tradition. I will admit the first night it was performed during the interval of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1995, it was a lot nearer to the Irish music and dancing traditions. But it has got progressively worse. It has incorporated alien influences from African war dances and Latin America.”

Now, I will attempt to leave the glaring xenophobia and narrow-mindedness out of this post as it probably warrants a series of articles and a good chat with Mr. Duffy. And we will skip on to what he says next, “It’s not remotely Irish anymore. It is an insult to the musical intelligence of any Irish person who knows their stuff to have to listen to this being called an Irish show. I will argue with anyone that Riverdance has done absolutely nothing for the Irish traditions and that it is a money making racket that has made millions for its owners. Nothing will change my view on this show.”

Riverdance and it’s ilk has revitalised the joy of Irish Music and Dance. This joy has been there for the purists and for those who have been lucky enough to happen upon a session late at night in a cosy pub. This joy has been also there for the 100,000′s of Irish Dancers all over the World who work so hard in preserving, celebrating and bettering the art that we love. But now the whole World has had a chance to enjoy what we have cherished privately so long and he chooses to moan about it?

I respect tradition and believe it is important to have stubborn superiors who remind of us of the core values of an ancient art. However, I believe Mr. Duffy is lost in his provincial opinion and will give nothing with this attitude towards the future of Irish Music and Dance.

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1. Riverdance In The Heights
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3. Is Riverdance Too Glitzy?
4. Is Riverdance Too Glitzy?
5. Riverdance – North American Dates Announced!