Irish wind in Salamis

The third guest of the 25th International Famagusta Culture and Arts Festival, held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus this year, was Celtic Legends, which combines stories born from Ireland's deep-rooted traditions with music and dance.

The group, which began performing in the Connemara region of Ireland in 2002, continues to reflect their culture all over the world in their 23rd year. The group, which also includes dancers who have taken part in world-wide projects such as “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance,” brought all their skills and Irish melodies to the Turkish Cypriots at the Salamis Ancient Theater, located in the thousands of years old Salamis ruins, under the direction of Seán McCarthy.

We spoke to McCarthy, director of Celtic Legends.

'EXCITING TO BE IN TRNC'

We asked McCarthy, who we told us was their second visit to the TRNC, about the feeling of performing here. McCarthy said, “We have performed in similar historical venues before and it is always a special experience. We performed in Cyprus about 10 years ago but this is our first time performing in this region. We are excited about that.”

When we asked McCarthy if 23 years of consistency had brought fatigue, he said, “We are passionate about our work. Every place we go, every audience is a completely different source of motivation for us. We are constantly improving our show and adding innovations. This keeps the excitement alive for the audience as much as for us on stage.”

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FOR DANCERS

McCarthy points out that it is not easy to balance tradition and innovation in choreography. “It is a sensitive subject,” he says, adding: “Our choreography is based on the traditional foundations of Irish dance, but we also include modern interpretations and storytelling. Staying true to our roots is the first rule, and constantly following the latest trends and applying that to our work is the second rule.” Emphasizing that they give the dancers a freedom of expression not seen in shows, McCarthy says, “They bring their own style and individuality to the stage. It is a complete team effort. Everyone brings their best with their heart. This is one of the secrets of success.”

RHYTHM AND TOGETHERNESS

We ask how Irish dance and music culture is responding to international audiences. “It’s always amazing to see that Irish culture has such a universal appeal,” says McCarthy, adding that it’s priceless to see and feel that audiences from South America to Asia to Europe are so moved and enjoyed. “We want audiences to leave the show inspired, uplifted and feeling a connection, whether it’s to their own roots, the story we’re telling or just the excitement of a live performance. The essence of Celtic Legends is celebrating community, tradition and the power of rhythm to bring people together,” he says.