99-year-old Irishman heads to Buenos Aires for Tango competition

James McManus

An Irish OAP is set to take the trip of a lifetime to Argentina to take part in a Tango contest – just before he turns 100!

Waterford man James McManus started dancing in 2002 and it is believed he will become the oldest ever competitor at the Tango Buenos Aires Festival.

Organisers of the festival are hoping to verify the honour for the 99-year-old with the Guinness World Book of Records.

James McManus

James practices at Waterford Tango every Tuesday and his friends at the club have helped him achieve his dream of dancing in Argentina by fundraising €2,500.

James said: “Tango generates a lot of happiness for me. And dancing is also very important socially, you interact with people other than you and make new friends.”

His teacher Hernan Catvin is an Argentine dancer who lives in Ireland. The pair have travelled to Argentina with Irish dance teacher Tara Whelan ahead of the competition.

James said: “Hernan is my mentor, without him I could not have been here.”

Good luck to James from all of us at Ireland Calling.

Take a look at the video below.