Cultural Tourism Triumphs in Clare
Co Clare family beats the recession with 2011 music and dance spectacle
At the World Famous Cliffs of Moher in North Clare, the world dance phenomenon Michael Flatley's LORD OF THE DANCE will be staged in September at the edge of the world famous iconic tourist attraction 700 ft above sea level.
MPO Promotions Ltd, headed by Oliver O'Connell and his two sons Michael and PJ, are the backers of this incredible spectacle that will generate over €12 million in tourism spend in the North and West Clare region.
The promoters have come up with the ingenious idea of marrying an iconic show with an iconic tourist attraction. LORD OF THE DANCE at the Cliffs has never been performed in an open air concert in Ireland before. The show will be supported by the famous KILFENORA CEILI BAND, FINBAR FUREY with local trad musicians Michael O'Connell and Hugh Healy. This event will go down in Irish Entertainment folklore as the concert of the century.
Oliver O'Connell and his sons are well known in Co Clare, and are steeped in the music culture of the county. Michael O'Connell regarded as probably one of the finest Uilleann pipers in Ireland. He is the "Face of Clare" on the Discover Ireland website, seen by over 1 million viewers around the world who log on when they decide to visit Ireland. When Michael is performing every summer in Doolin village, visitors are delighted to meet "The Guy on the Internet" in person and to listen to his music.
The O'Connells decided that as Ireland's jobs were disappearing, and no resources to get the Country moving again, it was time to take control of their own destiny.
Oliver's Company had collapsed in 2008 when the construction tsunami hit the country. "We had one of the best and most efficient plant hire companies in Ireland, with over 30 employees, but a number of factors hit us and we were forced to close with the loss of everything we owned," said Oliver. " Nobody could pay us and we lost it all. The reputation and integrity of the O'Connell family was the only pillar left standing after the Company's collapse, and we just picked ourselves up and moved on with our lives," he added
Putting this event together has been an extraordinary journey for the O'Connells. The result will be an amazing event as thousands of people from all over the world head for the Cliffs in September to dance, play and sing at Ireland's most spectacular tourist destination.
A poet has described the dramatic Cliffs of Moher as storm sculpted, in eternal argument with the sea.