LOTD 25 Years of Standing Ovations: Cry of the Celts -- James Keegan's Final Performance

Let's celebrate James Keegan's amazing tenure as the Lord of the Dance with another clip from his final performance: this time, it's Cry of the Celts!
James' career needs no introduction. His achievements in the world of competition #IrishDancing are jaw-dropping. His 19-year run as an #IrishDance pro in Lord of the Dance is truly superlative. He was the first person other than Michael Flatley to star as the Lord of the Dance in a commercial video release of the show. Today, he is the show's creative manager -- effectively Michael Flatley's right-hand man -- as well as the head of the eponymous Keegan Academy in Manchester.
And it is Manchester where our stage is set for this video: Manchester, the final stop on Lord of the Dance's inaugural tour of its 25th anniversary show, 25 YEARS OF STANDING OVATIONS. Manchester, where current Team Lord dancers Sean Scally (who just celebrated his birthday) and Ryan Thomas Lalley also hail from (indeed, the end of the tour marked Ryan's retirement as well). Manchester is James Keegan's home town -- and what better storybook ending as a professional Irish dancer than one final performance in a billion-dollar show as the Lord of the Dance in one's home town?
The audience that night was not aware that James would be performing. There were rumors of some sort of surprise in store for the evening's performance, but listen carefully to the crowd as James explodes onstage for his Cry of the Celts solo: as the audience realizes who it is, the cheers start to erupt -- and keep going.
What followed is legitimately one of the most electric evenings in the history of Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance. We had cameras onsite filming as much of the action as we could (special thanks to Alasdair Spencer, Joe Harrison, Connor Smyth, and Zoltan Papp for their work, without whom the camera coverage would not have been possible), so that we can present excerpts from that magical evening to you now.
Planet Ireland arises! Tickets on sale now to the 2022 continental Europe tour of Lord of the Dance: 25 Years of Standing Ovations. Witness the classic magic -- with a new generation.

[@TravisW85]

There was a time when I thought Flatley could never be matched in terms of the general feel of the performance as the lord (not skill, just the way it felt because he's the absolute original as well as the nostalgia factor of growing up seeing Flatley as the lord). But gracious was I wrong. James really knocked it out of the park as the Lord. He captures the same performance and feel of the original, and it's just one part of why this show is still as amazing today as it was back in the day. Knowing James has since retired, I feel the same nostalgic feeling for his performances as I do for Flatley's and for my mind that's impressive. Other shows (not just Irish dance or even dancing in general, so again) never quite feel the same when it's someone else performing the lead vs whomever the original(s) might be to me. LotD will always be one of the greatest exceptions to this for me. (Note: none of this is commentary on Matt or Cathal, this is just a video about James' performance)

[@MichaelFlatleysLordoftheDance]

Excellent comment.

[@BobHogan]

Without taking any credit from any other dancers, this night was absolute magic, the atmosphere was electric, and at the end, you could hear someone shout "We love you James", well that person was talking for the whole audience,. The greatest show on the Planet. God Bless ALL.

[@Dragonfly_dance_]

I had the honor of watching James as the lord, along side Mary mirasola as morrighan, zoltan Papp as the dark lord and Erin Kate’s as saorise! Seeing James was an absolute honor to see! If you guys ever come back to Colorado I will be seeing you!

[@karendagostino1953]

It gets better and better, and I love watching it.

[@polixeniagraf2636]

Beautiful! Thank you so much! 😘 🌻❤️👏👏👏

[@JonathanBinns]

AMAZING🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼stunning footwork, i am always totally enthralled by James, bravo our kid😊

[@joseguay9180]

What a dancer! He's getting better and better! Just love the show. James you are the "King"! From a Brit in BC Canada!

[@valerieselau7384]

Marvellous performance by these guys 👍

[@Ellinor_Breitig]

Mystera 1998, EIRE and My love to you brought me here... Keep on dancing and performing! ❤‍🔥💚💃

[@ixx61]

❤❤❤

[@rainerdorr2939]

One word: FANTASTIC 👏👏👏

[@valentinbuc]

Hopefully you’ll tour more European countries next year! We’re waiting for you in Romania.

[@user-vz7ph2vw9z]

БРАВО, ИРЛАНДИЯ !!!

[@TheWitschhunter]

That was wonderful, thumbs up. Greetings from Germany.

[@joseantoniobachiller9439]

Fantastic

[@lenkaroskosova1389]

Fantastické 👏👍😊❤️🌹

[@justynazokiewska8223]

true legend :D

[@mahdieinolghozat2842]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@aidaginajiman5745]

🥰🥰🥰

[@user-es8vo7vr8m]

Неподражаемо, нереально, так нельзя

[@rabenvaddatv]

whats the name of the music?

[@evasztrimbej1128]

Táncol még a művész?

[@Dragonfly_dance_]

I believe James keegan is retired from dancing but involved with the show. I might be wrong but I thought he was gonna take over for michael when the time comes

[@chloepepler]

He's the creative director of the show now and he goes on tour with them, he just doesn't perform as the Lord anymore