y hopes he can match the success of previous extravaganzas like "Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance" which have been seen by tens of millions of spectators. Tiger, a dramatisation of Ireland's history, has taken Flatley years to create and millions of pounds to stage. "The Celtic Tiger is often referred to in the financial pages as Ireland's incredible economic success over the last decade. But I see it as something much more than that," he said. "I see it as the heart and soul and spirit of the Irish people. When they got to America, in the beginning they were treated like slaves ... and they rose again to become the John F. Kennedys of the New World."

Flatley and his creations are the subject of gentle mocking in Ireland, but his global appeal is strong: he has performed before world leaders, earned up to $1.6 million a week as a dancer and had his legs insured for $40 million, according to a promotion pack provided at the launch.

Reuters