Jigs winner Nicola realises Riverdance dream

The winner of the Celebrity Jigs ’n’ Reels television show is fulfilling her dream by taking to the stage as the lead role in Riverdance.

Nicola Byrne, who won the reality television Irish dancing competition with Fair City star Killian O'Sullivan earlier this year, is taking the lead role in the stage extravaganza for the first time during its run in the Gleneagle Hotel INEC venue in Killarney, Co Kerry.

The 26-year-old from Dublin’s Blanchardstown, who took up Irish dancing aged four, said: “It is most dancers’ dream to be a lead. I just joined, happy to dance in Riverdance, I was delighted to be asked.”

Ahead of taking on her new role, Nicola said: “I’m all excited and nervous, but I can’t wait.”

The show is taking place at the Gleneagle INEC in Killarney from September 5-20 next.

The dancer joined the Riverdance Flying Squad in 1999 to do promotional gigs while still studying in college. Then last summer she joined the dance troupe for its run in the Gaiety and travelled on its Asian tour before Christmas.

“I was asked to train in for the lead role, and I’ve been training for the past few weeks,” she said. “It is more physically demanding and there is more pressure.”

At four years old Nicola began Irish dancing with the O’Shea School of Irish Dancing.

“I never thought it would be a career, I just did it as a hobby. We took part in international festivals but I just never thought about it as a career until Riverdance opened up the world of Irish dancing,” she said.

Earlier this year, Nicola spent several weeks teaching Fair City star Killian O’Sullivan Irish dancing as part of the reality television show.

“It was really challenging but so much fun as well, especially in the initial few weeks as we were teaching from scratch someone who has never danced before. To see someone improve each week was great,” she said.

“I was shocked by what Killian managed to achieve.”

She said the reality show appeared to have sparked a renewed interest in Irish dancing among children.

“I think there has been a lot of interest in it after that,” she said. “My friend is a teacher, and the children in school they all loved it and wanted to take dancing classes.”