Michael Patrick Gallagher took his first tentative steps towards a career in dance at the age of eight when he started classes with Ann Kerr of the Aodh Rua School of Dance in Donegal. Within two years he had won his first World Championship. Success continued with 6 Ulster and 5 All Ireland titles, and another World title to cap it off.

Riverdance

On the evening of April 30th 1994, Michael Pat sat down with his family to watch the Eurovision Song Contest and his life, like that of every other Irish dancer was never to be the same again. Although he was asked to join the first stage production the following year, he decided it best to finish his education first.

In 1996, however, while studying for a law degree in Queens University, the temptation proved too much and he took a year out to join the Riverdance ‘Liffey Co.’ in the UK. Little did he realize that this one-year would lead to seven! Within the first year of joining the show he trained and performed as understudy and in the autumn of 1997 he was offered the lead role in a new touring production set for the US.

The ‘Lagan Co’, as it was called was to become his family for the next five years as a cast and crew of almost 100 people crisscrossed North America, playing to sold-out audiences and rave reviews. In June 2003, in front of a capacity audience of over 6000 people in Wolftrap, Virginia, the ‘Lagan Co.’, along with Michael Pat, performed their last show. In all, he had danced over 1200 lead performances, one of the most given by any male principal in the history of the show.

TCRG

One of the first things he did, on returning home to Ireland was to successfully pass his TCRG, which qualified him to teach Irish dance professionally. The ending of his touring did not signal the end of his days with Riverdance, as he became a member of the elite ‘Flying squad’, performing at corporate events and exclusive social functions.

Television Work

In the past year he has featured on two TV commercials in the US. The first was for a high-speed Internet access company called ‘Roadrunner’, which showcased his footwork and speed. The other was for the famous Chicago based department store ‘Marshall Fields’.

Family Talent

Michael Pat comes from a very talented family of dancers, with all his siblings having performed in either of the major dance shows. George Bernard is currently touring with Riverdance while Barry John has been based in Las Vegas with ‘Lord of the Dance’, for the last six years. Catherine, after a number of years with Riverdance, now teaches Irish dance in Budapest, Hungary and leads her own performance group ‘Steps of the Celts’.

Michael Pat hopes to continue to dance and perform for quite a few years to come!