Michael Flatley receives Freedom of Sligo

Michael Flatley will today receive the Freedom of Sligo from lord mayor Jonathan McGoldrick.

Michael Flatley’s love affair with Sligo was rekindled when he launched the Sligo Live Festival last autumn, an event which brought three generations of his family together.

His music, he has claimed in the past was influenced by Sligo Style Traditional Music and his father hails from Culfadda in Sligo.

Mayor McGoldrick said: “Michael is a wonderful person, he has a great love for Irish culture and it is so appropriate for him to join the select group of Freemen of Sligo, one of the oldest Boroughs in the Country”.

Sligo Live Producer, Rory O’Connor added: “We are delighted the Mayor and Borough Council have recognised Michael. He could not have been more supportive to us in Sligo Live. He has such an affinity for traditional music, and particularly the lilting Sligo style music. He is widely recognised as a concert flute player and had he not concentrated on dancing could have made a career as a musician – perhaps he might yet!.”

Many know Michael Flatley for his extraordinary dance talents. He is also one of traditional Irish music’s finest flute players and honed his craft from the Sligo style of Irish traditional music as a teenager while on holiday trips to Co Sligo.