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'Riverdance' was the show that announced the Irish boom years, but there are signs now that Michael Flatley's brand is faltering on home turf, along with the economy. Further afield, though, the appetite for Irish dance shows is undiminished, writes MICHAEL SEAVER

‘I’VE GOT THE biggest TV screen in the world – 72 tons – at the back of the stage. Imagine being at the premiere of a new movie, except in front of the screen you’ve got arguably the best dance troupe on earth, a lighting show that rivals Pink Floyd, $3 million worth of costumes, the best sound effects and a musical score by Ronan Hardiman that’s like an Irish rock concert.”