Wed 17th March 1999 - Theres a day I won't forget in a hurry. I had seen LOTD once before at the NIA, I was lucky enough to see Michael Flatley performing, but that had been well over a year since I had seen that so I desperately needed a live LOTD fix. The tickets were booked and finally the big day came!

7:30pm.... Me & my sister Bev entered the National Indoor Arena. We stepped inside the auditorium...WOW! I was happy to see the stage had been brought WAY FORWARD! Every seat in the house was guaranteed a good view- we had a much better view than I expected, so that was the icing on the cake. (Cheescake - of course!)

While people were settling down irish music was piping out in the background, and I could hear the dancers backstage tapping away, warming up and practicing their routines. It was so exciting to hear! Just after 8:00 there was a womans voice was heard through the speaker system, she said something like - "Welcome to the National Indoor Arena, and to the greatest dance show in the world - LORD OF THE DANCE" Then she said something about not using photographic & recording devices. Then the lights went down and the applause started....

The hooded high priests walk on stage with their torches and then the light show begins, flashing the arena with gorgeous blue lights. This lasts for a while, then the little spirit awakens and begins to play her flute and CRY OF THE CELTS begins. The video screens weren't on at that point but I could tell little HELEN EGAN a mile away! She was wearing a shinier version of her little spirit costume, the one she wore in Feet of Flames. The Coleens were also wearing their blue FOF costumes.

As the coleens awaken and begin to dance I was sure I saw Gillian, although as I said the video screens don't come on until the Lord enters for some reason. The colleens dance for a while then the drums kick in and the lights go red as the colleens run off the stage....a figure emerges from the smoke and leaps onto stage...its DES BAILEY!!!

He was wearing the gold FOF costume with blue trousers. I was expecting to be making lots of comparisons with him and Michael during COTC but I instantly accepted him as the Lord. He gave a very strong, powerful & confident performance, his taps were absolutely deafening, they really pierced right through my body. I love the way he attacks every move, like Michael. His arm movements were different from Michaels, he did lots of cool little hand spins (like Colin Dunne in Reel Around the Sun.) He also struck the LOTD pose a few times. His footwork was very good, and I don't honestly think that the taps were canned- I was watching his feet and his high kicks and they were spot on. Des finishes his solo and the troupe storm on! WOW! The professionalism of these dancers are amazing! What an INCREDIBLE number!

The audience were a little too quiet for my liking during COTC, but when it had finished they got a hearty round of applause. The dancers leave and Erin enters for SUIL A RUIN. Now I had heard from one of Terry’s show reports for the previous night, that Anne Buckley wasnt singing because of a car crash. I had hoped it wasnt true but as Erin came out I could see that it wasnt Anne. The singer had black hair, no wig or anything. However I was a bit suspicious as to whether this woman was actually singing at all - the voice was exactly like Annes, so I think that it was canned. Next, CELTIC DREAM. Saiorise came out and for a while I was unsure who was playing her. I was fairly convinced it wasnt Bernadette Flynne, but sometimes she would look at the camera and I thought it was her. (It turned out to be DEARBHLA LENNON ) Dearbhla was a very graceful and elegant Saiorise, she did really well.

After Celtic Dream the stage becomes dark...the eerie music kicks in and its WARRIORS time! Don Dorcha enters...I crane my neck to see who it is...ohmylordofhedance... IT’S DAIRE NOLAN!! I check the video screens to make sure...YES!YES!YES! It is! It’s Daire! What can I say about Daires performance that hasn't been said before? He was just BRILLIANT!! I was so glad he was dancing that night, of all the leads that I wanted to see perform, Daire was #1 on my list! He really hammered the floor that night, he danced like he did in FOF, lots of crazy arm movements and sneers to the audience! He was wearing his purple FOF costume, but with a purple mask instead of his silver one. It may sound hard to believe but I think his performance has actually improved since FOF. I know its hard to improve on perfection but somehow he managed it! I love the way that when he finishes his solo and the rest of the Warriors come on Daire does a different arm movement with each beat of the music. Very cool and something I don’t remember seeing him do before. The rest of the routine was incredible to watch - these guys just don’t put a foot wrong! The troupe was much more vocal in tonights performance - many times Daire would yell out and some of the guys would yell too. The audience really liked this one and gave them a rapturous applause at the end of it!

The audience seemed to be warming up just in time for GYPSY. In comes Morrighan...once again I lean forward to see...is it Gillian...No! Its KELLY HENDRY! Woohoo!

She got a few whistles and cheers from the crowd. She was brilliant in this role, the only word I can use to describe some of her movements is “liquid”! She made good use of the stone pillars, weaving in and out and dancing between them. At the end of it she got down on the floor and blew a kiss to the audience before she left.

Next up, STRINGS OF FIRE, with the sensational CORA & MAIREAD!!! I was mostly watching this on the video screens and they are just sooo cute! They really seemed to enjoy this one, and the audience were getting into it too, actually clapping during it which showed there was some good potential for later on.

There seemed to be one or two improvisations in SOF, and they seemed to be playing faster than normal in some places. Cora & Mariead got the best applause so far, as they deserved! Then comes BREAKOUT, the girls were wearing those fies costumes from FOF initially, and they had that green symbol on their underwear later on! Dearbhla and Kelly seemed to have a good rivalry in this one. Once the girls had finished the WARLORDS run on stage and get their girls, followed by Des. He was wearing leather trousers and black shirt, but no Zorro hat! (Thats probably a patented Michael Flatley trademark!)

As the Warlords start off, Des runs around inspecting them. He used this as an opportunity to play to the audience a bit, which was good. The girls at the side were getting into it as well! Then Des goes to the right of the stage, spins ans does that heel slapping move and dances to the left. On his return he dosn’t do that “string pull” move that Michael does, I would imagine that is incredibly difficult and one he didn't feel comfortable with, instead he sort of tapped out with the right leg and sidestepped with the left - still a good move and made the same kind of noise. His solos were really good and in one bit he did that great move that Michael does when he taps really fast, spins and claps a few times while spinning! Cool! This was another number where the guys were very vocal, towards the end yelling on every stomp! More well deserved applause, the troupe leaves and the black haired singer returns. I have to say something, this song really SUCKS! The only part of the show I would cut, or at least change it to the Gaelic song Anne sings in FOF, that one is absolutely gorgeous, one of the nicest songs I have heard, but this one - ewwww! It has no melody to it. It’s depressing and boring, but then I suppose its a lament. Thankfully it didn’t last too long and then out comes the little spirit for the part 1 finale LORD OF THE DANCE. Kelly & Dearbhla are wearing those lycra(?) black & red dresses. Then the guys join in - I recognized Damien O’ Kane as one of the dancers in the line. Then the drums kick in and Des Bailey LEAPS into action and gets a scream of delight from the audience! Once again Des performs strongly and does some great arm movements. One I noticed that I thought was cool was that he does the LOTD pose mid air when he does the first 3 leaps! Then the troupe return and make some noise! Des encourages the audience to clap along to the music - not that he needed to tell me and my sister, we were one of the first to start! The audience start clapping along and getting into the spirit of things. Then they do the “domino move”! WOOHOO!!!!! Perfect. Spot on. Faultless. The routine finishes - the audience applaud and then Des straightens his arm out like a gun to the lighting guy and signals him by “firing”! Lights off...END OF PART ONE!

The lights came up leaving the audience gasping for breath. I quickly ran to get an ice cream. Wonderful to see so many happy people in the foyer. I got my ices, sat back down and waited for Part 2. I noticed at that down at the front aisle there was this little fat girl, about 12 or 13 years old, attempting to irish dance!

She was quite good actually, she was doing leaps, high kicks and spins, along with Don Dorcha-esque arm movements! Then she took a bow and much to her surprise virtually everyone seated applauded her! This took her by surprise and she sat down quickly! Too funny!

After about 15 minutes the lights go out and the spirit returns, then out comes Daire and his henchman and DANGEROUS GAME begins. Daire steals the flute and tosses it back and forth, being downright evil towards little Helen.

He breaks the flute and tosses it in the air. One of the pieces goes quite far towards the end of the stage and for a minute I thought she had lost one of the pieces, but she soon found it and got herded into the center by Dorcha’s men. I have to hand it to Helen, she has such wonderful use of facial expression, she looked scared to death and very vunerable. Daire was on top form again, at one point he stood on the corner of the stage mouthing “come on!” to the audience! Then he turns and goes in for Helen, lifting her above his head like he did in FOF. Then Des comes to the rescue. I loved this part, Des seemed so outnumbered, he would tap something and then the sheer noise of Dorchas men was so overpowering he really looked outnumbered and in danger. It was such an exciting scene I was positivley shaking at this point!

Then the Warlords joined Des and started the great face off in HELLS KITCHEN. Some superb dancing in this, and Daire was really getting into it, as were the rest of the guys, once again being very vocal. I’m not sure, but I could have sworn they have lengthened this piece slightly, in the bit before Des & Daire face off seemed to go on for a few bars more, but it might have been because I am used to the monks chanting and giving it extra rhythm. I thought Daire upstaged Des a bit in this - I wasnt as convinced over Des’ “fighting” style. At the end of Hells Kitchen, I could have sworn I saw Helen throw a punch at Daire! I only caught it out the corner of my eye as I was watching the video screen, but I’m sure she hit him! Daire was outraged at this and grabbed Helen, but Des knocked him back and Daire retreated.

During the SPIRITS LAMENT I was looking out for Helen Egan, remembering what Michael said in the Making of FOF, that every time she does that bit she really cries - he was right, I noticed Des brushing away a real tear from her eye. Awwww.

FIERY NIGHTS - Kelly returns (although not in the FOF catsuit) and dances with Des for a bit. Then Daire returns unmasked with the guys. I think the girls were wearing the blue FOF costumes again. Then Cora & Mariead come on for THE LAMENT. This piece was beautiful, one of the best interpretations I have heard for a while. Then, as I had hoped they speed up and begin the ACCORDION JAM!!! I am sooo glad they left this in! Me & my sister started clapping straight away and a good many joined us. It was weird though, pretty much all of the right side of the audience were clapping along, while all of the left hand side weren't! Anyway - this got A LOT of applause, the band seemed to get the best deal of the night for audience response. Next up - SIAMSA. No major changes of choreography that I noticed, very similar to the FOF version, but the troupe looked like they were having so much fun! Siamsa was followed by STOLEN KISS... Dearbhla was wonderful as usual, and Des did a pretty good job too. But Kelly stole this piece! At the end of the piece Des picks her up, swings her over his head and she slides down his body, before Des returns to Dearbhla. At the end I could have sworn that Des didnt actually kiss Dearbhla ... he sort of dipped her down and lingered over her lips. I may have missed it though because I was watching Kelly on the screen and she looked so disgusted that Des had picked Dearbhla !!! Kelly runs for it as Dorchas troops enter and the NIGHTMARE begins. Des realizes he’s been trapped and try to escape- running all the way over to the end of the stage, but his exit is blocked by Dorchas men who push him into the middle and hold him there. Daire watches over the capture from the top of his platform. Another new bit to the choreography - while Daire is spinning and tapping just before dispatching the Lord the Little Spirit runs onto the stage and behind Daire, almost as if she was trying to stop him....

KABOOM!!!! Too late! Des explodes in an eruption of flame and sparks! However, the Little Spirit dosn't seem too worried about this...she moves to the side of the stage, grinning impishly at the audience, almost like she's saying "We know something they don't know!" And she's right...no sooner does Don Dorcha thinks he's won than that pesky little spirit is back with a good smattering of that pixie dust.... she sprinkles it on the left of the stage and Des emerges from the floor, wearing a shirt this time. Then THE DUEL commences. Daire really goes for it in this one! They meet in the centre and clasp hands in an armlock move, spinning each other round while tapping. There is quite a bit of pushing and shoving in this version, Des throws little punches at Daire, and Daire responds with high kicks. Once again I thought Daire was more convincing in a fight situation, Des didnt seem so agressive. However, at the end Des spins and starts the final tapping solo...he spins and taps faster...and faster...and FASTER...!!! He taps for so long and he still hadnt started his run to see of Don Dorcha...I was on the edge of my seat thinking "Hows he gonna keep that up..?" but then he started chasing Daire off the stage.... BOOOM!!!! Daire is gone in a shower of pyro's! VICTORY!!!  This is superb! The troupe rush on with their black and white costumes on (the leads wear their original costumes like in FOF) The audience really enjoy this one! Des does a bump and grind move at one point and gets a fair few screams & whistles from the audience! When Victory is over one by one Des brings the cast forward to take their bows... first the black haired singer who gets quite a lot of applause...then Cora and Mairead who get EXTATIC APPLAUSE....then DAIRE!!! Woooo!!! Everyone's clapping and stamping their feet. Dearbhla and Kelly take a bow together, then Des comes forward with the principles and takes one last bow. I notice that he didnt take a bow on his own, though. Des once again signals the lighting guy with his "gun" hand move, and the stage is pitched into darkness.... the audience are still clapping and screaming...for a moment they are quite and then everybody, and I mean everybody, screamed "MORRRREEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

at the same time!! Then the lights came back up and the troupe step forward for PLANET IRELAND! At this point the audience are really going for it and Des is playing to the audience much more. He takes a girl out of the line and dances with her, does the bump and grind a few more times and dances with Kelly & Dearbhla!

In the bit before the claxon goes off (you know... "1,2...HUGHHHHH!!!") Des shouted somthing and made the troupe laugh, but I didnt catch what he said. It may have been "Happy St Patricks Day" as one of the other troupes did that day.

Then they did LOTD again! Many in the audience, me included, were up on their feet at this point. "One more?" Des asks....

YESSSS!!! YESSSS!!!! YESSSSSS!!! we scream.

Des is not convinced... he puts his ear to the ground to coax a bit more..

. "ONE MORE?"" YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone screams and stamps their feet. Feeling sorry for us, Des gives us an encore! Woo hoo! But whats this...Des runs to the center and extends his arm to the lighting guy again...No!No!No!

Cant we have ONE MORE? Obviously not, Des "shoots" and the right of the stage lets off pyros, followed by the left...the troupe step back and....

 They are all gone. The smoke clears and the lights come back on. What an experience!!! One thing was clear to me that night...I simply have to see this show live again! Many, many times!

 Thankfully the evening was not quite over yet, I had arranged to meet up with VBers Terry & Carol. Me and my sister walked down to the stage door, when we heard a voice. "James...?" It was Carol and Terry! We had a little chat and was amazed to hear that this was Terry's 62nd SHOW!! WOW! I was very impressed!

Carol showed us her signed programmes and told us about her "Michael moment!" We had been chatting with Terry & Carol for about 5-10 minutes when we spotted Cora and Mairead leaving the building with another band member. They smiled and waved at us, and we waved back, but me & Bev were so totally stunned to see them this close we didnt take a photo! Shame really - if we had the nerve to chase after them I'm sure they would have posed for photos, they seemed such nice people. We waited for another 15 minutes or so, then a few people started to come out. I thought they were dancers but Terry said they were crew, the band, seamstresses...etc...

 

We waited a little while longer and then a girl with long blonde curly hair came out carrying the biggest bunny I had ever seen in my life! I'm preety sure that this girl here is Dearbhla Lennon, but if I am wrong please correct me!

We waited a little longer and not much seemed to be happening, then Terry said to me "Did you know Des and Bernie are there signing autographs...?" I looked and she was right! A whole gang of the dancers were there and I hadn't notice them leave! I stood in line to talk to some of them when my sister said "ITS HIM!!!"

I looked up... who should be coming out of the stage door but DAIRE NOLAN HIMSELF!

I quickly went up to him brandishing my programme and pen.

"Do you mind...." I asked.

"No, not at all." Daire said in a thick irish accent that I have only heard once before on Making of FOF.

	He started signing my programme. Yes Yes Yes! I told him how much I had enjoyed the show, and that the crowd had been good tonight. He agreed "Yeah - not bad. This is my third time back here..." I told him that I had cought the show last time round when Michael was with the troupe.
Me and the Dark Lord himself!

Not nearly as sinister without the mask is he?	One happy Flathead!

After that a little girl came up to Daire and he signed her autograph book. I didnt speak to the other dancers, they all went back to the hotel after that. This picture on the right isn't very good but if you look you can see Daire signing a little girls book. You would have thought that little girls would keep clear of the Dark Lord wouldn't you?!

And that was that! I was more than happy, of all the dancers I wanted to congratulate and speak to and have my programme signed by it would have to be Mr Nolan, so I was VERY HAPPY! After that we said farewell to Terry & Carol and went home, dancing on a little cloud of happiness.