The Riverdance star has undergone a ‘material change in circumstances’ and is set to return to Ireland within 14 days in order to run in this autumn’s presidential elections
Michael Flatley – yes, Riverdance dancer Michael Flatley – is going to seek a nomination to become Ireland’s next president, a court has heard.
The choreographer’s barrister Ronnie Hudson announced during a High Court case he’s taken in relation to works done at his County Cork mansion named the Castlehyde.
Hudson made the court aware of a “material change in circumstances” for Flatley, and said the star was set to return to Ireland within the next fortnight to look to run in this autumn’s presidential election. An affidavit, signed by Flatley’s solicitor Maxwell Mooney, was submitted to the court stating the Lord Of The Dance star is “to seek nominations to run for president of Ireland”.
The American-Irish Flatley, who is eligible to run as an Irish citizen, had strongly hinted at a presidential bid last week, but said he had not made a final decision. He said during a radio interview that he did not believe the Irish people “have a voice – not a true proper deep voice that speaks their language”.
Flatley said he hears concerns from the “average person on the street” and they are not “happy right now Somebody has to speak for the Irish people”.
The star was in the country earlier this month where he performed on a flute at a July 4 celebration hosted at the residence of the US Ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh, who was recently appointed to the role by Donald Trump.
An election for the largely ceremonial role is expected towards the end of October, as it must take place in the 60 days before president Michael D Higgins’s term ends on November 11.
A candidate must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older in order to run, and they must be nominated either by at least 20 members of the Irish parliament or at least four local authorities.
Two candidates so far have secured sufficient backing to enter the race: former farming journalist and EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who is the Fine Gael nominee, and Catherine Connolly, a left-wing independent and former Galway mayor who has received the backing of opposition parties and independents.
Andrew Fitzpatrick SC said Flatley had said before in 2024 that he intended to move to Paris and then Valencia.
“That didn’t happen,” he told the court. He also said that if the court was prepared to admit the affidavit, it would undermine previous assertions made by Flatley’s side that the reason he is living in Monaco and cannot return to the state is because of the condition of the Castlehyde.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
