Michael Flatley, pictured here in 2019.Getty Images
Michael Flatley, the Chicago native Irish dance superstar, is set to seek nominations to run in this year's Irish Presidential election.
Flatley's barrister Ronnie Hudson made the announcement during a High Court case regarding works carried out at the Irish American's Cork mansion, the Castlehyde.
The PA reported on Friday, July 25, that Hudson notified the court of a “material change in circumstances” for Flatley, and said he is to move back to Ireland within the next 14 days and look to run in Ireland's presidential election this autumn.
An affidavit signed by Flatley’s solicitor Maxwell Mooney was submitted to the court stating that he is “to seek nominations to run for president of Ireland."
Ireland's 2025 Presidential election
Ireland's presidential election must take place in the 60 days before the term of the current President, Michael D Higgins, ends on November 11 this year.
(If a President resigns, dies, or becomes incapacitated, an election must be held during the 60-day period that follows.)
To be eligible for election as President, a candidate must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older.
Though he was born and raised in Chicago, Flatley, whose parents are immigrants from Co Sligo and Co Carlow, is an Irish citizen, making him eligible to run.
Candidates must also be nominated either by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas; at least four local authorities; or former or retiring Presidents can nominate themselves to appear on the ballot.
With President Higgins serving his second term, he is ineligible to run again.
So far, two other candidates have secured backing to run this year - Mairead McGuinness and Catherine Connolly.
Michael Flatley in his Irish dance production "Celtic Tiger." (Getty Images)
"Somebody has to speak for the Irish people"
The revelation in the High Court comes less than a week after Flatley said on RTÉ Radio that he was seriously considering making an Irish Presidential run.
"I take it seriously. No, I've not made the decision, but I have a team of advisers that are advising me on this," he told host Brendan O’Connor on Saturday, July 19.
"I have a huge business to run. I have an army of dancers counting on me to make a living. I have a whiskey company, a beautiful young wife and son that I want to spend time with.
"If I thought that I could be of benefit to the Irish people and make 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."
He continued: "I'm very blessed in that I meet the average man, I meet the average person on the street. From five to 95, I meet them all and I hear their concerns, and I'd be lying if I said they're happy right now.
"Somebody has to speak for the Irish people.
"I'm not sure we need another politician, if I'm honest. It’s a statesman’s role, but I spent the last 30 years of my life touring the world promoting Ireland and Irish culture.
"I’ve met them all. I’ve met the Bushes, the Obamas, Trump, Putin, I’ve met the Clintons. I’ve met the King and Queen of England. I’ve met the King and Queen of Sweden and of Spain. I’ve met all those people on a more cultural front, more to promote the country.
"And I think, maybe, that’s what the job of President is all about."
Flaltey did say he had not been approached by any political party, but revealed he had been approached by "some very weighted individuals, people in the know."
He reiterated: "It's certainly not something I've made any decision on, but it does get frustrating when you see the hardworking, Irish taxpayer working as hard out and having no say in things."
Michael Flatley at the 2022 CLRG World Irish Dancing Championships. (Getty Images)
On Friday, responding to Flatley's apparently confirmed intentions to run, one Labour TD shot down the idea of his party formally supporting the Irish dancer.
TD Conor Sheehan admitted to Live95 that he doesn't "know that much about" the Irish dancer, "given that he lives in the United States," but said: "I think there's more chance of us nominating that tree over there, but I don't know."