@riverdance Come with us to dance around Dublin!☘️ Thanks to @DoDublin Tours for showing us some of Dublin’s best attractions. 🎟️: For tickets and showtimes for our summer run in the @Gaiety_Theatre head over to👇 Riverdance.com or Ticketmaster.ie #riverdance #riverdance30 #gaietytheatre #dublin #dodublin #dance #ireland ♬ original sound - Riverdance

Jake Carter’s Old Friends is a nostalgic anthem that beautifully complements the story of John McColgan and the legacy of Riverdance.

Just as Carter sings of youthful memories, mischievous adventures, and bonds that withstand time—“Don’t let the sun go down on old friends”—McColgan reflects on decades of artistic collaboration, cultural pride, and the enduring relationships forged through performance. Both narratives celebrate the power of shared history: one through music, the other through dance.

In Old Friends, Carter reminisces about a tight-knit group of dreamers who “could’ve been the Beatles, but we couldn’t sing,” evoking the same spirit of possibility and camaraderie that McColgan nurtured in the Riverdance cast. Over 70 marriages and 130 children have emerged from the show’s community—a living testament to the kind of lifelong connections Carter sings about. These aren’t just performers or friends; they’re family, bound by rhythm, memory, and a shared stage.

As McColgan looks ahead to future tours and Carter continues to write songs that echo the past, both artists remind us that legacy isn’t just about fame—it’s about the people who walk beside us, the stories we tell, and the joy we carry forward.

🎶 🕺🎶🧑‍🤝‍🧑🌄💚👞🎤🍼📼🧠 🔊 Old Friends - Jake Carter

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As John McColgan approaches his 80th birthday, he reflects on a life steeped in storytelling, performance, and cultural transformation.

Born in Strabane, County Tyrone, and raised in Wexford, McColgan’s early years were filled with earthy farm life, vivid characters, and a budding love for theatre that would eventually shape his legacy.

🕺 Riverdance: From Eurovision to Global Phenomenon

Riverdance began as a seven-minute interlude during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. McColgan, deeply moved by the audience’s reaction, knew he had witnessed something extraordinary. “I was in tears,” he recalled. “I knew something special had happened”. Just a year later, he and his wife, Moya Doherty, transformed that moment into a full-length stage show that debuted in Dublin on February 9, 1995.

🌍 30 Years On: A Cultural Legacy

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Riverdance has been seen by over 30 million people in more than 50 countries. McColgan describes the journey as “a privilege and a delight,” noting how the show has evolved “from a spectacle into a global cultural phenomenon – continuously evolving yet remaining true to its Irish roots”.

👯 Generations of Dancers and a Living Tradition

The current cast of Riverdance is younger than the show itself, with dancers like Amy Mae Dolan and Fergus Fitzpatrick leading the charge. The production has even fostered a community, with 70 marriages and 130 babies born among its cast members over the years.

🎉 Looking Ahead

McColgan remains optimistic and energized. “The future is strong. We're already booking tours for 2028,” he said, hinting that Riverdance may well continue for another 30 years.

#StorytellingLegacy 🎭 #Riverdance30 💃 #IrishCulture 🇮🇪 #GlobalPhenomenon 🌍 #CelebratingJohnMcColgan 🎉