The "Eurovision" birth of "Riverdance" was, after all, a competitive endeavor, and the bit did win the contest. At one time or another, most of us mere mortals fall into the trap of criticizing a thing for what it is not, rather than appreciating it for what it is. "Riverdance" (and, collectively, its various off-spring and imitators) is a huge commercial success because of what it is, not what it is not. Anyone who thinks that the show represents the totality of Irish traditional music is simply not sufficiently informed. And anyone who thinks that it represented itself in that light is similarly deficient. It is what it is, and no more. A grand bit of musical theatrics. "Thank you" to any and all who have given of their blood, sweat and tears to make it happen.