Riverdance directors tap their way to €75m pay bonanza

Not everyone jumping for joy, however, as dance company makes annual loss in 2012

Joanne Doyle and Breandán de Gallaí, the two principal dancers from Riverdance rehersing. Photograph  Alan Betson /Irish Times
Joanne Doyle and Breandán de Gallaí, the two principal dancers from Riverdance rehersing. Photograph Alan Betson /Irish Times

The creative forces behind the entertainment phenomenon, Riverdance have shared a pay bonanza of €75 million since the turn of the century, new figures show.

Accounts just filed by John McColgan's and Moya Doherty's Abhann Productions Ltd with the Companies Office show that pay to directors, including pension contributions in 2012 totalled €1.33 million.

This resulted in the firm sustaining a pre-tax loss of €294,201 in the 12 months to the end of June 30th 2012.

An examination of Abhann Productions Ltd’s accounts since 2000 show that the pay to directors at the firm totalled €73.6 million in the years between 2000 and 2011.

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan is a contributor to The Irish Times