Kildare star returns to Dancing With The Stars this week for big performance

A host of former contestants, including Kildare's own Brian Dowling, return to the Dancing With The Stars dancefloor for a special Riverdance performance on Sunday night.

The final takes place on St Patrick's Day and will see the likes of Lottie Ryan, Brian Dowling, Bernard O'Shea and Marty Morrissey back on our screens.

Viewers will witness the ultimate reunion of Dancing with the Stars legends. For starters, from the show's second season there's comedian Bernard O'Shea and sport broadcaster Marty Morrisey.

"I’m delighted to be back on Dancing with the Stars, dancing in the final is where I rightfully belong. It’s such a privilege to not only be back but also to be dancing Riverdance," Marty said.

"It’s an act that has added to Irish culture worldwide and getting a chance to get the legs up on St Patrick’s Day makes it even better.

"We’ve a fantastic group of alumni whose company I’m thoroughly enjoying and very much looking forward to taking over the dance floor once more. Sure, we’ll dazzle brighter than the Glitterball trophy."

Irish country singer, Cliona O’Hagan from season three will also be making her return to the show, as will season four Glitterball champion and 2FM presenter Lottie Ryan.

"I’m not quite sure what way the stars had to align to afford me the opportunity to take to this iconic dance floor once again, but I am profoundly grateful," says Lottie.

"I’m being given the incredibly rare and prestigious opportunity of dancing with Riverdance, 30 years after my dad first introduced this iconic masterpiece to the world.

"I now get to stand side-by-side and shoulder to shoulder with some of the most amazing dancers our country has ever produced - to say I'm honoured would be an understatement."

Also from season four, Fair City actor Ryan Andrews and television and radio presenter Brian Dowling will don sequins next Sunday.

"I am very excited, after four years, to make my big return to the dance floor," says Brian. "Anyone that watched my season of the show back in 2020 will know that I am a dreadful dancer with no natural rhythm.

"My daughter Blake has more rhythm than I do. I am nervous about Sunday's performance. I have been rehearsing and I have pains and aches like I've never had before.

"It's giving me flashbacks of myself and Laura Nolan in 2020," he adds. "To people watching on Sunday, I sincerely apologise. I do hope Arthur gives me 10 because if he doesn't, there will be trouble."

Season five alumni and Paralympian Ellen Keane will once again make her way to the studio floor as she returns.

"What a way to spend St. Patrick’s Day! I am so excited to have a little cameo in Riverdance and to be back on the Dancing with the Stars dancefloor," she says

"What a special opportunity, it’s the most bizarre thing I could ever think of but I’m so excited to be asked back, to be back in the final once again and to support Jason. What’s better than one Paralympian… two Paralympians!

"I might just be jumping up and down but that doesn’t matter because I’ll be surrounded by professionals, and they’ll disguise it."

TV presenter and entrepreneur Suzanne Jackson - a contestant in season six - will be lacing up her dancing shoes once again for the St. Patrick's Day decider.

For the first time on Irish television this performance of Riverdance will include multiple lead dancers performing a uniquely choreographed version.

This April marks thirty years since Riverdance wowed audiences around the world as the unforgettable Eurovsion Song Contest interval act.

The Riverdance troupe on Sunday will include some dancers performing with Riverdance themselves for the first time.

They will be joined by principal dancers Amy-Mae Dolan, Fergus Fitzpatrick, Anna Mai Fitzpatrick and Jason O'Neill and by a number of the new generation of Riverdancers, many of whom were not even born when Riverdance debuted.

Speaking ahead of Sunday, principal dancer Amy-Mae Dolan said: "We are incredibly excited for our performance on Dancing with the Stars.

"We are thrilled to be joined by the wonderful celebrities, helping them learn the iconic choreography, witness them become part of the team and prepare for an exciting performance on Sunday.

"Our collaboration with the celebrities is going to create an electrifying and very energetic performance that I am delighted to be a part of."

It’s no ordinary final but it will also be business as usual as the evening will kick off with a dazzling opening number from the pro-dancers and the finalists, set to Feels This Good by Sigala.

The competition will kick in as the couples take the floor for their first dance of the evening which has been chosen by the judges.

Paralympian Jason Smyth and his partner Karen Byrne will return to their Samba from Week 7 dancing to Rhythm Divine by Enrique Iglesias.

Blu Hydrangea and their partner Simone Arena will aim for perfect points once again with their Contemporary Ballroom fusion to Tattoo by Loreen from Week 5.

TV and radio presenter, Laura Fox and her professional partner Denys Samson will dance their Jive from Week 1 to River Deep, Mountain High by the Glee Cast.

After their shock Dance Off appearance last week, Wild Youth singer, David Whelan and partner Salome Chachua will dance their Jive from Movie Week to You Can Never Tell + Misirlou from Pulp Fiction.

The competition will reach its pinnacle as the couples showcase their Show Dances. David Whelan and Salome Chachua will aim to enchant with All That Really Matters by ILLENIUM and Teddy Swims, while Jason Smyth and Karen Byrne hope to deliver a powerful performance to Go the Distance by Michael Bolton.

Laura Fox and Denys Samson will hope to mesmerize with Make it Look Easy by DITA, and Blu Hydrangea and Simone Arena will close their time in the competition with I Am What I Am by John Barrowman.

Wrapping up the final, the returning couples of season seven will storm the dancefloor with the final Group Dance, set to Murder on the Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

The glitz, glamour, and nail-biting competition will conclude as Dancing with the Stars comes to a close on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player this Sunday, March 17 at 7pm.