Moya Doherty facts for kids

Moya Doherty is a successful Irish businesswoman, born in 1957 in Pettigo, County Donegal, Ireland. She grew up in Dublin and is best known as the producer and co-founder of the famous dance show Riverdance.

Early Life and Education

Moya Doherty was born in a village called Pettigo, located in County Donegal. A small part of Pettigo is actually in County Fermanagh. Her parents, Daniel and Patricia, were both primary school teachers from Dungloe, a town in the west of County Donegal. Their families owned pubs in Dungloe.

When Moya was seven years old, her family moved to Dublin. She spent her childhood and teenage years there. Later, her parents moved back to Dungloe after they retired. Moya has two sisters, Niamh and Nuala, and two brothers, Pádraig and Seán. She attended Manor House School, a Catholic secondary school in Raheny, Dublin.

The Story of Riverdance

Riverdance is a world-famous dance and music show that first appeared in Dublin in February 1995. It started as a short, seven-minute performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Dublin. Moya Doherty was the Executive Producer for the Eurovision show and had the idea for this special dance interlude.

The performance was so popular that it was developed into a full stage show. Riverdance quickly became a huge hit around the world, known for its exciting Irish dancing and music.

Moya Doherty's Business Ventures

Moya Doherty has been involved in many important businesses in Ireland. From 2014 until 2022, she was the chairperson of the RTÉ Board. RTÉ is Ireland's public service broadcaster, similar to the BBC in the UK. In this role, she helped guide the direction of Irish television and radio.

Before her time at RTÉ, Moya was a director at Tyrone Productions, a company that makes television shows. She also helped start an independent national radio station called Radio Ireland, which later became Today FM. She is currently a member of the board for the Dublin Theatre Festival, which supports theatre and arts. She was also a board member for the Abbey Theatre, Ireland's national theatre.

Personal Life

Moya Doherty is married to John McColgan, who was also a co-founder of Riverdance. They got married in 1986. Moya Doherty is considered one of the most successful businesswomen in Ireland. She and John McColgan have two sons. For many years, they lived in Howth, near Dublin.