Riverdance star Michael Flatley will put his best foot forward this Saturday when he will take part in a Cork European Capital of Culture attempt to break the world record for the largest ever number of people to dance in a céilí.
The organisers of the Céilí Mór yesterday confirmed that Flatley will start the world record attempt at the Grand Parade and South Mall in Cork when some 10,000 people are expected to join hands for the biggest ever Siege of Ennis.
Flatley will be joined on stage by acclaimed composer Micheál Ó Súilleabháin before the dancers gather on seven stages stretching from the Grand Parade to the South Mall to dance their way into the record books.
Cork City Council and Triskel Arts Centre, supported by Cork 2005, are involved in organising the event. Triskel's PR manager Alma Kilmurray yesterday appealed to Cork people to join in the fun.
"We've been overwhelmed by the response. We have over 6,000 people signed up already and we're confident we'll reach the 10,000 mark," she said.
The event will start at noon with classes to ensure novices get familiar with the steps. Organisers plan to start the record attempt at 3.30pm when dancers will have to dance the Siege of Ennis continuously for six minutes.
The record is currently held by 6,791 people who Irish danced for five minutes in Dublin, Ohio during a festival in 1998. Officials from the Guinness Book of Records will attend the event.