TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has revealed that he “actually cries” whenever he watches Riverdance, because the experience is so powerful.
Addressing a meeting of Irish ambassadors at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin this morning, Mr Kenny spoke about the power of the Irish brand and its potential to bring in tourism. He told the assembled diplomats:
I actually cry every time I see the power of the phenomenon of Riverdance. Ancient dance translated into a phenomenal and powerful message.
Mr Kenny went on to compare the power of Riverdance to the global fame of U2, saying: “It’s like the young fella who climbed on top of a military tank in Taiwan many years ago. He had no English but one word: U2. Knew the music.”
A recording of the comments was posted online by Today FM’s political correspondent Justin McCarthy, who also tweeted about them.
The Taoiseach also told the ambassadors to imagine they were in “the Leinster dressing room at half-time in Cardiff”, asking them to spread Ireland’s positive message with new energy, Newstalk reported. “It’s like the Roman army when it was marching,” he said.
Everyone knew they were coming. I want to know that the world understands that Ireland is on the way.
Asked about the Taoiseach’s Riverdance comments, a Government spokeswoman said: “He said that he gets very emotional, it brings out powerful emotions in him.” She added that Mr Kenny “wasn’t working from a script”.
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