Latest news with #LordoftheDance
Irish Times
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Michael Flatley says rare great white shark jaws were a ‘gift'
Presidential hopeful Michael Flatley said he was given rare great white shark jaws as a 'gift', after it emerged the Lord of the Dance star had been alleged to have sparked a South African trophy shark bone trade that further threatened the endangered species. A spokeswoman for Mr Flatley suggested the former Riverdance star might have donated the shark jaws to a museum, but later seemed to suggest this might not have happened. Court documents filed in a dispute over insurance at his Co Cork mansion, Castlehyde, show shark jaws were one of a number of high-value items that the millionaire kept in his mansion, which reportedly had a 'safari room'. Mr Flatley has expressed his intention to run for president of Ireland in this year's contest, which is likely to be held in late October. READ MORE Mr Flatley has collected a number of animal artefacts over the years, including the skull of an Alaskan bear and the set of great white shark jaws, which originated in South Africa. In 2016, shark conservationists carried out a landmark study of the great white shark population along the entire South African coastline. The stark findings suggested the breed had depleted and was facing extinction. At a media briefing launching the findings in Cape Town, respected shark expert Michael Rutzen reportedly alleged Mr Flatley had been partly responsible for inflating the shark jaw market in South Africa after he acquired a set. 'He got himself the biggest jaw ever caught in South Africa,' Mr Rutzen said. 'But what we saw in the field is the fishermen heard about it and started taking the big animals to wait for the next Mike Flatley.' Mr Rutzen had claimed that Mr Flatley had been given the jaw in exchange for a £30,000 donation to a retirement fund for local fishermen. A spokeswoman for Mr Flatley said the dancer 'is well known for his kindness and generosity'. [ Michael Flatley intends to make presidential bid, his barrister confirms Opens in new window ] 'Over the past three decades he supported multiple charities both at home in Ireland and throughout the world. He recalls being asked to make a donation almost 30 years ago for which he sought nothing in return but was given an artefact as a thank-you in recognition of his kind gesture. Most gifts of this nature that Mr Flatley received were subsequently donated to relevant museums,' she said. According to court documents reported last year, a set of shark jaws were in the possession of Mr Flatley in his Castlehyde estate, near Fermoy, Co Cork, until at least 2015. The world-famous Irish dancer, who currently lives in Monaco, previously came under pressure from animal rights activists when it emerged he had an African rhino horn in the 'safari room' of Castlehyde. The existence of the rhino horn, with an estimated black market value of €200,000, only emerged after the endangered species part was stolen in 2014. The thieves, who were never caught, were pursued by Mr Flatley in his sports car but managed to evade him. [ Gardaí investigate Flatley rhino horn burglary Opens in new window ] Mr Flatley also previously owned mounted gazelle heads and zebra-fur framed mirrors, which were included in a 2020 auction of some of his Castlehyde items. Mr Flatley sold a muzzle-like mask worn by actor Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs for €85,000 in the same auction.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
From Volodymyr Zelensky to Donald Trump and Kanye West: The good, the bad and the wacky celebrity presidential candidates
With the revelation in a Dublin court on Friday that Michael Flatley is moving back to Ireland ahead of launching a presidential bid, an otherwise dull campaign for the Áras could finally be set alight by the Lord of the Dance.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Michael Flatley could face Conor Mcgregor in battle for Irish presidency
Michael Flatley and Conor McGregor are squaring up for a battle to become the next president of Ireland. In a one-on-one few would have predicted, the Lord of the Dance could challenge the MMA champion in presidential elections in October 2025. Flatley's ambitions for high office were inadvertently revealed during a High Court case about works carried out at his Castlehyde mansion in Co Cork. The man credited with reinventing traditional Irish dance notified the court of a 'material change in circumstances' – he was moving back to Ireland to run in their presidential elections. It raises the prospect of the man who once held the Guinness World Record for tap dancing 35 times per second facing off against McGregor. McGregor, 37, who recently lost a civil case accusing him of rape, declared his intention to run for president in March this year at the White House, where he gained the tacit endorsement of Donald Trump. Flatley, 67, who is eligible to run as an Irish citizen, hinted at the presidential bid last week in a radio interview, saying: 'Somebody has to speak for the Irish people.' The Riverdance star said that he did not believe the Irish people 'have a voice, not a true proper deep voice that speaks their language'. The 'average person on the street' is not 'happy right now', added a man whose feet were once insured for $57.6 million. Flatley was in Ireland to perform on a flute at a July 4 celebration at the residence of Edward Walsh, the US ambassador to Ireland. Mr Walsh was recently appointed by Donald Trump, the US president. In a breathtaking innovation, Flatley introduced upper body movements to a dance style famous for its blur of leggy stamping and rigid torsos. His dance spectaculars are said to have been seen by more than 60 million people in 60 countries and have grossed more than $1 billion. The choreographer and dancer, whose other shows include Celtic Tiger Live and Feet of Flames, has a potential rival in McGregor, who is also expected to launch a bid. McGregor has reinvented himself as an anti-immigrant populist who even suggested recently that Ireland should leave the EU rather than fight a trade war with his beloved Mr Trump. Sadly, this clash of Irish dance with Irish boxing may not happen. McGregor is expected to struggle to clear the threshold necessary to qualify for the race and it is unclear if Flatley will have sufficient support. Candidates need to be nominated by at least 20 members of the Irish parliament or at least four local authorities. A candidate must also be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older. They are not the only famous faces who could throw their hat in the ring. There has been speculation that Gerry Adams, the former Sinn Féin leader, could join the race after he successfully sued the BBC in a Dublin court. Mr Adams won £84,000 after he was accused of sanctioning the murder of a British agent. The role of president is largely ceremonial but carries symbolic weight. Some have mooted former boxer Barry McGuigan, the Catholic Ulsterman with a Protestant wife who did much to unite communities in Northern Ireland, as a possible candidate. The election must take place in the 60 days before outgoing President Michael D Higgins's term ends on Nov 11. The 84-year-old Mr Higgins, a Left-wing politician and a poet, has served since 2011. Two candidates have so far secured sufficient backing to enter the race. Catherine Connolly, a Left-wing independent and former Galway mayor, has received the backing of opposition parties and independents and former farming journalist and EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who is the Fine Gael nominee. Ms McGuinness was also deputy speaker of the European Parliament and an outspoken critic of Brexit. She caused headlines after she cut off Nigel Farage in his final speech as an MEP before Brexit. She told Mr Farage and his party to stop waving their Union Jack flags, which breaks European Parliament rules. 'Put your flags away, you're leaving... and take them with you... goodbye,' she said in a widely viewed video clip from the session. 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 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 that the reason he is living in Monaco and cannot return to Ireland 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 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 court's term.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Michael Flatley intends to make presidential bid, his barrister confirms
Michael Flatley intends to make a presidential bid, a barrister for the Lord of the Dance choreographer has confirmed. Barrister Ronnie Hudson notified the court on Friday of a 'material change in circumstances' for Flatley during a High Court case he has taken in relation to works carried out at his Cork mansion. Flatley is to move back to Ireland within the next 14 days and look to run in the presidential election this autumn, his barrister confirmed. [ Tony Holohan 'reflecting' on how to contribute to public life in future Opens in new window ] The dancer, 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. 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'. An election for the largely ceremonial role is expected towards the end of October, as it must take place in the 60 days before outgoing President Michael D Higgins's term ends on November 11th. - PA
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Michael Flatley to make bid for Irish presidency, court told
Riverdance star Michael Flatley is to seek a nomination to become Ireland's next president, a court has heard. The choreographer's barrister made the announcement during a High Court case he has taken in relation to works carried out at his mansion in Co Cork, the Castlehyde. Barrister Ronnie Hudson notified the court of a "material change in circumstances" for Mr Flatley, and said he is to move back to Ireland within the next 14 days and look to run in the presidential election this autumn. An affidavit, signed by Mr 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". Lord of the Dance star Mr 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". Mr 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," he said. He was in Ireland earlier this month, where he performed on a flute at a 4 July 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 outgoing President Michael D Higgins' term ends on 11 November. To be eligible to run, a candidate must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older. They must be nominated either by at least 20 members of the Irish parliament or at least four local authorities. So far, two candidates 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. Several other figures have hinted at their intention to run, including MMA fighter Conor McGregor, who has criticised the Irish Government's policies on immigration and public safety. At the High Court today, defence barristers in Mr Flatley's case argued against the affidavit being accepted by the court and stated that it was an attempt by Mr Flatley to "move the goalposts". Andrew Fitzpatrick SC said Mr 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 Mr 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 Mr 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.
