Riverdance star Michael Flatley to run for Irish presidency

Riverdance star Michael Flatley is to seek a nomination to become Ireland’s next president, a court has heard.

The dancer and choreographer will move back to Ireland in the next two weeks and “intends to seek nominations to run for president of Ireland,” his lawyer has announced.

Barrister Ronnie Hudson 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.

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”.

Lord Of The Dance star 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.

Michael Flatley performing at Madison Square Garden in New York in 2005 / Credit: AP

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,” he said.

He was in Ireland 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 president 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 11.

To be eligible to run, a candidate must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older, and 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, former Galway mayor Catherine Connolly.

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.