Latest news with #LordOfTheDance
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Michael Flatley for President? The Lord of the Dance isn't ruling it out
Lord Of The Dance star Michael Flatley has revealed that he isn't ruling out a potential Presidential bid. Speaking on RTÉ's Brendan O'Connor Show yesterday, Mr Flatley said he took questions about his intentions to run, 'very seriously'. Lord Of The Dance star Michael Flatley has revealed that he isn't ruling out a potential Presidential bid. Pic: REX/Shutterstock He said: 'It's certainly not something that I've made any decision on, but it does get frustrating when you see the hard-working Irish taxpayer working as hard out and having no say in things. 'If I thought that I could be of benefit to the Irish people and maybe, more importantly, if I thought I could be a voice of the Irish people. 'Right now, I don't think they have a voice, not a true proper deep voice that you know that speaks their language, 'Flatley said. Pic: David Rose/REX/Shutterstock 'Right now, I don't think they have a voice, not a true proper deep voice that you know that speaks their language.' He said he is 'very blessed' to meet the 'average person', adding: 'I meet them all and I hear their concerns. And I'd be lying if I said they're happy right now, and somebody has to speak for the Irish people.' He said he had been 'approached by some very weighted individuals, people in the know,' about a bid.
South Wales Guardian
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Swansea Grand announces new star for 2025 panto Aladdin
The Welsh actress will join Joe Pasquale and Kev Johns in this year's production of Aladdin. Running from December 6,to January 4, Ms Cartwright will play the role of Spirit of the Ring. The north Wales native is an accomplished musical theatre performer, having been the first-ever recipient of the prestigious Catherine Zeta-Jones scholarship at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She has played the leading lady in the UK tour of Come What May and was the principal vocalist in Michael Flatley's Lord Of The Dance. She said: "I'm over the moon to be back at Swansea Grand for this year's panto. "Nothing beats performing in front of a home crowd – the laughs, the energy, the Welsh warmth… it's pure magic!" Aladdin, which is produced by award-winning Imagine Theatre, will feature another dazzling digital set using LED screens with animated scenes and mesmerising effects. The show is set to include "hilarious slapstick, plenty of audience interaction, and marvellous musical numbers". The production company said: "Aladdin is a spectacular family adventure, and the Christmas treat you don't want to miss." Tickets for the show are on sale now. For more information visit the Swansea Grand's website.
BreakingNews.ie
09-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Michael Flatley says security for costs application an attempt to embarrass him
Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley has claimed that a court application to require him to put up €2.8million security for costs in advance of his upcoming action over works carried out at his Cork mansion, Castlehyde, is 'a final effort to derail my claim.' And the entertainer in an affidavit opened to the Commercial Court said it was also an attempt to embarrass him. Advertisement Michael Flatley's counsel, Ronnie Hudson BL, instructed by Maxwell Mooney solicitor, told the court that the dancing star is an Irish citizen and has assets in this jurisdiction, and he contended it could be 'a form of discrimination' if the court were to make an order for security of costs against him. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts has been asked by the parties being sued over work carried out on Castlehyde in Fermoy after a 2016 fire to order that as much as €2.8m be lodged in court by the entertainer in advance of the hearing of the action. A security for costs application is usually made when the defendants in the case apply to the court seeking to have their costs covered if they end up successfully defending the main proceedings. The application in the Flatley case is expected to last two days. Advertisement In an affidavit opened to the court Mr Flatley said said Lord of the Dance is continuing to sell out venues worldwide and he had spent the last 30 years of his life travelling the world promoting Ireland and Irish culture globally. He said Lord of the dance has sold over €1 billion worth of tickets. Lord of the Dance, which he said had received ' a lifetime of standing ovations' has been valued 'at a conservative minimum of €200 million. Mr Flatley also said a section of New York's 42nd St was renamed Flatley Way in recognition of his Irish American cultural work . Advertisement Mr Flatley said his Statement of Affairs which valued Lord of the Dance at €200million, his whiskey business at €10million and his Castlehyde mansion at €20 million is accurate. He said he owns all of the rights and intellectual property for Lord of the Dance and the valuation could be double the €200million figure. He said his liability is a €7.9 million mortgage on Castlehyde which will be repaid from his business activities over the next two years. He said he agreed with the €20 million valuation on Castlehyde and he regarded the suggestion that a €10.5 million valuation by the defendants for the mansion is in any way credible as 'complete nonsense.' Advertisement Mr Flatley in the affidavit which was sworn last month also said he 'intends to return to live in Ireland permanently as soon as possible.' Andrew Fitzpatrick SC for the underwriting and insurance defendants submitted Mr Flatley lives in Monaco, outside the EU. He said Mr Flatley's suggestion that Lord of the Dance could be worth €400m was a "wild assertion." The entertainer, he said, has repeatedly averred in court documents that he is a man of means and has means to pay costs and the court could take comfort in the fact that if it makes the order for security for costs it won't stop Mr Flatley's access to the courts. The question to be answered, counsel said, is whether Mr Flatley has sufficient or ample assets in this jurisdiction against which an order for costs can be forced. Advertisement He said his clients were concerned there are not sufficient assets in this jurisdiction and he contended the €20million value Mr Flatley puts on his Castlehyde mansion should be discounted. Ireland Michael Flatley's legal battle over security for c... Read More Counsel for Austin Newport , Stephen Dowling SC said his side say that Mr Flatley used Castlehyde, as a holiday home and as 'an ad hoc temporary residence from time to time.' In the main proceedings, the Riverdance performer claims he and his family had to vacate the Castlehyde period property in October 2023 after alleged toxic chemical residue was detected during routine maintenance. Mr Flatley is suing Austin Newport Group Ltd, the main contractor and insurance underwriters — MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd, AXA XL Underwriting Agencies LTD and Hamilton Managing Agency Limited along with Lloyds Insurance Company. All of the allegations are denied. The application for security for costs continues on Wednesday.
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Michael Flatley's legal battle over security for costs begins in Commercial Court
Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley's latest legal battle has taken off at the Commercial Court with two applications before a judge for security for costs in his upcoming action over works carried out at his Cork mansion, Castlehyde. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts is being asked to order that as much as €2.8 million be lodged in court by the entertainer in advance of the hearing of his main action over the works carried out at his Fermoy mansion. Advertisement A security for costs application is usually made when the defendants in the case apply to the court seeking to have their costs covered if they end up successfully defending the main proceedings. The application in the Flatley case is expected to last two days. Opening the first application, Andrew Fitzpatrick SC for the underwriting and insurance defendants, said Mr Flatley lives in Monaco, outside the EU and the free trade area. He said in a statement of affairs Michael Flatley had put the valuation of his Lord of the Dance show at €200 million, his whiskey business at €10 million and a €20 million valuation on his Cork mansion Castelyhyde. Counsel said there were no details of liabilities and Mr Flatley had later said he owns the rights to the Lord of the Dance show and it could be worth €400 million which counsel said was a "wild assertion." Advertisement Mr Flatley he added had said that the show is linked to him personally "and wherever he is, so too is the value of Lord of the Dance." Counsel said what Mr Flatley had put forward were assertions not valuations. The entertainer he said has repeatedly averred in court documents that he is a man of means and has means to pay costs. Counsel said the court could take comfort in the fact that if it makes the order for security for costs it won't stop Mr Flatley's access to the courts. The question to be answered Counsel said is whether Mr Flatley has sufficient or ample assets in this jurisdiction against which and order for costs can be forced. He said his clients were concerned there are not sufficient assets in this jurisdiction and he contended the €20million value Mr Flatley puts on his Castelhyde mansion should be discounted. Advertisement Mr Flatley he said has lived in Monaco for ten years and 'appears to like it.' At one stage he said his side were told Mr Flatley was moving to France and Spain but then he stayed in Monaco. Mr Fitzpatrick told the court his side do not accept there are "toxins" at Castelhyde and he said there was no toxicology report that say there was ever toxins there. In the main proceedings, the Riverdance performer claims he and his family had to vacate the Castlehyde period property in October 2023 after alleged toxic chemical residue was detected during routine maintenance. He has sued the main contractor who allegedly renovated Castlehyde following a June 2016 fire at the property. He claims the unsafe levels of chloride residue is due to PVC combustion in the fire and the alleged main contractor, Austin Newport Group Ltd, was allegedly aware of a residue issue. Austin Newport denies the claims. Mr Flatley is suing Austin Newport and insurance underwriters — MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd, AXA XL Underwriting Agencies LTD and Hamilton Managing Agency Limited along with Lloyds Insurance Company. All of the allegations are denied. The application for security for costs continues.
