Moya Doherty facts for kids

Moya Doherty (born in 1957) is a very successful Irish businesswoman. She is famous for being the producer and co-founder of Riverdance. This amazing show combines traditional Irish dance with modern music. Moya grew up in Dublin, Ireland.

Early Life and Education

Moya Doherty was born in 1957 in a village called Pettigo. This village is in County Donegal, Ireland. When she was seven years old, Moya moved to Dublin with her parents. She spent her childhood and teenage years there.

Her parents, Daniel and Patricia, were both primary school teachers. They came from Dungloe, another town in County Donegal. Moya has two sisters, Niamh and Nuala, and two brothers, Pádraig and Seán. She went to Manor House School, a Catholic secondary school in Raheny, Dublin.

Creating Riverdance

Moya Doherty is best known for Riverdance. This spectacular show is famous all over the world. It first appeared as a short, seven-minute performance. This was during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin.

Moya Doherty was the main producer for this short performance. It was so popular that it became a full stage show. The first Riverdance show premiered in Dublin in February 1995. It quickly became a huge success.

Moya's Business Career

Moya Doherty has had many important roles in business. From 2014 to 2022, she was the chairperson of the RTÉ Board. RTÉ is Ireland's public broadcasting service. This means she helped lead the national TV and radio stations.

Before that, she was a director at Tyrone Productions. This company creates television shows. She also helped start an independent radio station called Radio Ireland. It later became known as Today FM. Moya is also involved with the Dublin Theatre Festival. She helps guide this important arts event.

Family Life

Moya Doherty is married to John McColgan. He was also a co-founder of Riverdance. They got married in 1986. Moya and John have two sons. They are known as one of Ireland's most successful couples.