Latest news with #AudiUK
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Inside Michael Flatley's family life with wife and son
Lord of the Dance phenomenon Michael Flatley has surprised the nation by seeking a nomination to become Ireland's next president. The Riverdance star is to move back to Ireland within the next two weeks after a 'material change in circumstances' that has led him to look to run in the presidential election later this year, according to his barrister. The 67-year-old is eligible to run as an Irish citizen, and an affidavit, signed by his solicitor Maxwell Mooney, was submitted to the High Court on Friday stating that the Irish-American is 'to seek nominations to run for president of Ireland'. Michael Flatley with his wife Niamh. Pic: David M. Benett/for Audi UK Michael had strongly hinted at the idea before, stating 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'. While he is known around the world for his choreography, there is not much to tell about how he would get on in the political scene. In the meantime, has taken a look into Michael's family life and his history away from dancing. Michael was born in the US in 1958 to Irish parents. His father was a plumber from Sligo and his mother was a talented dancer from Carlow. Irish dancing runs in Michael's blood, with his grandmother also being a champion dancer. Michael was the second-born of five children and when he was two months old, the family moved from Detroit to Chicago. Chicago was where he began his dance lessons and at age 17, Michael became the first American to win a World Irish Dance title at Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne. Michael's breakthrough came with Riverdance. Pic: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock It was the same year he won the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil concert flute competition, which he claimed again the following year. Michael also has a history of boxing, winning the middleweight division of the Chicago Golden Gloves Boxing Championship and recording five knock-out victories in the 1970s. He reportedly flirted with the idea of becoming a professional boxer before committing himself to a career in dance. Michael was originally married to Polish hairdresser artist Beata Dziaba for 11 years after they met while he was dancing in London with The Chieftains in 1985. The couple separated in 1997 after Michael revealed he had an affair with another dancer Kelley Byrne, who was 19 at the time. Michael also got engaged to Lisa Murphy in the early 2000s, with the couple having an on-and-off relationship until 2006. Michael Flatley with Lisa Murphy in the early 2000s. Pic: Unicorn Entertainment/WireImage He is now married to Niamh O'Brien and has been for the last 19 years. Niamh is a fellow dancer, and the pair met while she was performing in many of his shows. Sources close to the couple said that there was an 'immediate attraction' between them. Michael and Niamh got engaged in 2006 – not long after he split with Lisa – and tied the knot a month later with a ceremony held at St Patrick's Church in Fermoy, Co Cork. Michael was 47 at the time and Niamh was 32. Michael Flatley with his wife Niamh and son Michael St James at the launch of Flatley Whiskey at The Round Room at Mansion House. Pic: Brian McEvoy The couple welcomed their son Michael Saint James just a year after getting married. He is their only child. Michael Jr hasn't quite followed his dad into the dancing world but still possesses a lot of creative qualities. Michael previously remarked: 'He's a very academic young man. He's also a flautist. He plays the electric guitar. He's an actor and a director. He's very creative.' In 2003, Michael was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer after an MTV viewer pointed out a brown spot on the side of his face that he himself had not noticed. Two years ago, Michael revealed that he was once again undergoing treatment for an 'aggressive' form of cancer. Michael Flatley went through cancer treatment two years ago. Pic: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock A statement read: 'Dear Friends, we have something personal to share, Michael Flatley has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. He has undergone surgery and is in the care of an excellent team of doctors. 'No former comments will be made at this time. We ask only for your prayers and well wishes. Thank you.' The following week, Michael shared a positive update about his condition. He wrote: 'Thank you to everyone around the world for your love and prayers. I am overwhelmed by your kindness. I have been released from hospital and am on the mend.' Michael's breakthrough came in 1994 during the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin, where he co-created and starred in Riverdance, a brief but electrifying performance that captivated millions. His innovative choreography, which combined traditional Irish dancing with a dynamic stage presence and theatrical flair, set a new standard for the genre. However, creative disagreements led him to part ways with the production later that year. In 1996, he launched Lord of the Dance, a full-length stage show that further showcased his talents not only as a performer but also as a choreographer. The show was a massive success, touring globally and drawing record-breaking crowds. Its scale and spectacle were expanded further with Feet of Flames in 1998. Michael changed the game in Irish dancing. Pic: Greg Williams/REX/Shutterstock In 2005, he debuted Celtic Tiger Live, an ambitious production exploring different themes surrounding Irish identity and history. Michael is widely credited with modernising and globalising Irish dancing, introducing it to new audiences and inspiring a new generation of dancers. Throughout his career, Michael battled various health challenges, including a serious viral infection and injuries from decades of high-impact dancing, which eventually led to multiple retirements from the stage. Despite stepping back from performing, he remained actively involved in the creative direction of his shows and pursued interests in music, painting, and philanthropy.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Audi S8 Quattro
Imagining a customer for the Audi S8 Quattro is a slightly complex exercise, but the car apparently accounts for 20 per cent of Audi A8 sales in the UK; so there must be plenty of them. This car's sheer size, its particular comfort and luxury tuning, its reserved performance styling and its unambiguous limousine classification all seem to mark it out as one not to drive but rather be driven in - which is a little at odds with its Audi Sport badging. So, is this the A8 for the CEO who travels in the back and just wants the car park status that it confers; or, as a more understated fast saloon, is it bought by someone who doesn't actually want people – colleagues, employees, tax accountants etc - to notice it? Might its owner be driven in the week, perhaps, but drive at weekends? Or are they just an A8 'patron' who wants a car with as much Audi-brand 'technik' as they can get? The answer to every one of those questions could well be 'yes', funnily enough - because this is a car of a genuinely broad luxury appeal, and no little interest to the keener driver. Having arrived as part of the current fourth-generation A8 range back in 2020, the S8 (which comes in short-wheelbase form only) offers a similar blend of big-hitting turbo-petrol V8 performance, top-level refinement, uncompromising luxury and understated performance styling as that for which so many of its predecessors have been known. But it offers even more Audi-typical advanced drivetrain and suspension technology as standard, much of which isn't available on any other A8. Quattro four-wheel drive is there to put the engine's 563bhp to effective use, of course, but here you get an active 'sport' rear differential in addition to the mechanical centre diff of other A8s, while four-wheel 'dynamic' steering comes as standard (it's an option on the rest of the range). And then there's the suspension, which is the really clever bit. While other A8s have a simpler adaptive air suspension system, the S8 gets what Audi calls Predictive Active Suspension, which mixes forward-facing cameras with a height-adjustable air suspension set-up that incorporates fast-acting electromechanical actuators at each wheel. The cameras scan the road, while electro-mechanical actuators constantly vary the car's ride height and manage its wheel deflections. Each wheel can be separately loaded or relieved depending on the road conditions across five driving modes. In Comfort+, the suspension tilts the body into corners to reduce lateral forces. In Dynamic, body roll is reduced to around half of that of a standard steel sprung suspension, according to Audi. While the same suspension can be optionally fitted to other A8s bought elsewhere in the world, Audi UK only offers the fully active set-up as standard on the S8. Under the bonnet, the S8 uses a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol with mild hybrid assistance. With 563bhp, its power was wound back by 34bhp over the ultimate version of the third-generation S8 – the S8 Plus, which used a less heavily developed version of the same engine. But with up to 1.8bar of turbocharger boost pressure, torque increased by 37lb ft, now peaking at 590lb ft on a band of revs between 2000 and 4500rpm. Those reserves are sent through an eight-speed torque converter equipped automatic gearbox with a manual shifting Tiptronic function, and Audi's Quattro four-wheel drive system, together with a 'sport' differential that constantly varies the amount of drive sent to each individual rear wheel. Audi made surprisingly big claims about the S8's efficiency when it first appeared in 2020. It uses both a cylinder on-demand system that automatically closes down one bank of cylinders on light throttle loads at urban driving speeds, and a new belt-driven 48-volt starter motor that operates in combination with a lithium-ion battery and a recuperation system capable of harvesting up to 8kW of energy during braking and coasting. That active suspension is quite the clever system, and you can tell as much as soon as you open the driver's door. Like other air-suspended cars, the S8 rises to meet you as you get in; but unlike others, it pops up on all corners surprisingly quickly, in less time than it takes you to swing open the door and slide inside. That's because each of the 48V suspension actuators can supply as much as 800lb ft of torque, be that to lift the car at each corner, to brace it against body movement or to trap and damp each wheel as it rebounds. As the door is closed, the air springs return to their nominal setting as the body is lowered again. It's a nice touch that showcases the advanced underpinnings of the new Audi every time it is driven. Inside, the S8 features subtle sporting updates to the standard Audi A8 interior. If you like more traditional Audi cabins, you might say there's precious little room for improvement anyway; since material quality is supremely high, and there are plenty of physical controls making usability easy. But with unique carbon fibre and aluminium trims, the new S8 manages to provide added appeal. Expensive looking and agreeably tactile materials combine with crisp and clear digital instruments as well as a standard 10.1-inch touch display for the infotainment functions, a lovely multi-function steering wheel and highly supportive sport seats to provide a truly first-class driving environment. Does it look a little dated compared with Audi's very latest, more digitally dominated interiors? Perhaps. But actually inhabiting it is none the worse for that. For the driver, the slightly obstinate feel of Audi's MMI touchscreen infotainment system (which often insists on an unusally firm fingertip prod to register an input) is a minor annoyance, likewise the omission of any separate physical cursor controller for the system - although it's still not the most distracting installation of its kind by any means, with usefully located shortcut keys to help you flick between menus. Since the S8 only comes in short-wheelbase form, it doesn't offer quite the expanse of second-row legroom as some A8s, but there's still plenty of space for full-size adults to travel in the back, with lots of the usual limousine treats (separate entertainment screens, seat heaters, etc) to entertain you while you're reposing. In the right conditions, this big Audi can feel brutishly potent, with earnest step-off qualities and unrelentingly urgent in-gear traits. The brawny engine is the undisputed star of the show, with the sort of sledgehammer performance to propel it from standstill to 62mph it in a scarcely believable 3.9sec. This is a limousine, remember. The slick shifting eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox and fast acting Quattro four-wheel drive system also play an integral part in the explosive accelerative and fast cruising ability. Together with the engine, they form an intoxicating combination that is further enhanced by a digitally augmented V8 soundtrack at least partly played over the speakers. Yet, as effective as it is under full load in sport mode, the S8's engine is also compellingly smooth on more measured throttle inputs in an altogether more relaxed Comfort+ mode. In city driving, it proves wonderfully flexible even in Eco mode, where the cylinder on demand system closes down one bank of cylinders, essentially turning the engine into a four-cylinder unit for brief periods. The most remarkable thing about the new S8 is the added breadth of capability brought by the adoption of Audi's Predictive Active Suspension and Dynamic All-Wheel Steering system. As well as varying the assistance acting on the steering of the front wheels, it adds a steering function to the rear wheels, which turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels at low speeds and in the same direction at higher speeds. The upshot is a newfound level of communication and response. Despite its generous dimensions, you can place the new S8 with added precision and confidence in any given driving situation. On more challenging roads, there's a welcome liveliness and neutral character to the big Audi which has tended to be notable by its absence in predecessor models. And, when you've an appetite for a more relaxing pace, that suspension has several other party tricks up its sleeve. Select Comfort+ operating mode and, when the forward sensors detect a speed bump up ahead, the body will first rise up by 50mm to create extra wheel travel; and then it will use those electric motors to cushion and manipulate the suspension struts as you pass over the top of it. If you take 'sleeping policemen' at 10-20mph, they go by uncannily smoothly and almost undetected. It's a truly eyebrow-raising experience. With 20in alloy wheels on the car as standard and a 21in set on our test car, the S8's low-speed ride has only average noise and vibration isolation, and it can't smother shorter, sharper inputs as effectively as bigger ones. Even so, the suspension maintains extraordinarily level and steady body control, even at faster cross-country speeds and on the motorway, as well as in town. Leave that Comfort+ mode active and it actually leans the car's body into longer, faster bends by up to 3deg (to the improvement of onboard comfort, rather than roadholding, Audi says); a trick the latest big Porsches have only recently appropriated. And it acts like an active anti-roll control system to sharpen the car's handling when you're using the Dynamic driving mode instead, by continually juggling the suspension's lateral stiffness between the front and rear axles. The net effect of the latter two features isn't quite as impressive as the S8's low-speed ride trickery, but they do contribute to striking high-speed handling precision for the car, as well as excellent outright stability at speed, and plenty of cornering roll-resistance and lower-speed agility too. In a simpler sense, the S8 feels as light, filtered and assisted though its controls as you might expect of a full-size limousine; and slightly managed and manipulated in its handling responses much of the time, rather than entirely natural, consistent and intuitive. It's generally easy to drive, though, and maintains a brisk pace very nonchalantly and comfortably indeed. The Audi S8 Quattro is certainly not a limousine for the high-ranking executive who wants to cut down on his expenses claims. All of the car's aforementioned cylinder shutdown and hybridisation technologies contribute to lab test 'combined' fuel efficiency of only 24.6mpg. Though there are both V6 diesel and petrol plug-in hybrid versions of the A8 intended to suit you better if efficiency is a higher priority. Prices start from just over £110,000, with Black Edition and Vorsprung edition versions of the car costing more, but bringing the tastiest tidbits of equipment specification. You can spend an awful lot more than that on a fast saloon car in 2025, of course; and this one has cruising capabilities and luxury credentials way in advance of most 'performance' options. The S8 is a car with plenty of pace and dynamic ability, but it has a particularly relaxed and refined character. That might disappoint those looking for greater outright excitement, but it makes this an usually effective fast luxury cruiser, and one of unique and special talents elsewhere too. Comfortable, composed, luxuriantly spacious and effortlessly fast executive transport doesn't get a whole lot better than this. Whatever your reason for choosing it in the first place, there's a very good chance that this highly advanced modern limousine will have it covered. Earlier incarnations of the S8 were persuasive ownership propositions, of course. The problem as far as enthusiast drivers were concerned is they all lacked the inherent engagement that sets a truly great car apart from a merely good one. As such, they never really rose to the challenge in a way Audi would have had us believe. Outstanding when charging flat out down an empty autobahn, but somewhat detached on more challenging back roads. This new model retains the traditional qualities that have made the S8 a car to cherish down through the years but brings a whole new dimension in dynamic versatility and verve. It connects with the driver on a whole new level. And on top of this, its advanced new suspension also provides the new flagship Audi saloon with a new found layer of comfort, making it a highly convincing all-season all-rounder. ]]>
