Michael Flatley revealed as surprise contender to challenge Connor McGregor for Irish presidency after Lord of the Dance's political ambitions were inadvertently disclosed in High Court planning battle

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

Iconic Riverdance star Michael Flatley could challenge MMA champion Conor McGregor in a bid to become the next president of Ireland.
The Lord of Dance's political ambitions were revealed during a High Court planning battle concerning his Castlehyde mansion in Cork.
Flatley, 67, who held the Guinness World Record for tap dancing 35 times per second, notified the court of a 'material change in circumstances'.
In doing so, he gave away his plan to move back to Ireland to run in the October 2025 presidential elections.
An affidavit, signed by Flatley's solicitor Maxwell Mooney, was submitted to the court stating that the Irish-American is 'to seek nominations to run for president of Ireland'.
But he's not the only celebrity running for president.
In March, days after a controversial trip to the White House Conor McGregor, 37, announced his bid to become Ireland's President.
The MMA fighter, who was found to have raped a woman in a civil case in November, announced his plans with an Instagram post which shows him standing in front of a private jet and wearing a Make Ireland Great Again cap.
Riverdance star Michael Flatley (pictured) is to seek a nomination to become Ireland's next president
It came after he spoke of an 'illegal immigration racket ravaging our country' at the White House.
Meanwhile, last week on a radio interview, Flatley said he did not believe the Irish people 'have a voice, not a true proper deep voice that speaks their language.'
But the face off may not happen as it is unclear if Flatley will have sufficient support and if McGregor will clear the threshold necessary to qualify for the race.
Candidates need to be nominated by at least 20 members of the Irish parliament or at least four local authorities.
They must also be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older.
The role of president is mainly ceremonial but carries symbolic weight.
The next election has to happen 60 days before the current President Michael D Higgins's term ends on November 11.
So far, two candidates have secured sufficient backing to enter the race.
McGregor announced the plans in an Instagram post where he is stood ahead of a private jet and wearing a Make Ireland Great Again cap
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.
At the High Court on Friday, defence barristers in Flatley's case argued against the affidavit being accepted by the court, and stated that it was an attempt by Flatley to 'move the goalposts'.
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.
Ms Justice Eileen Roberts said that as Flatley's residence 'is so central to the issue of security of costs' in the case, she would allow the affidavit to be taken into account, but said she 'entirely' heard submissions made by the defence about the characteristics of the affidavit and what weight it should be afforded.
She said she expected the judgment in relation to the costs application to be delivered in a 'reasonably short period', and that it would be given 'shortly after' the end of the courts term.