Flatley steps in to donate jacket for charity auction

AS MICHAEL Flatley moves to acquire property in Kerry, the Lord of the Dance star is planning to discard a very precious possession in Limerick.

Flatley, who is reported to be buying an island off west Kerry, has agreed to give one of his brilliant dance jackets for auction at a charity ball.

The jacket will be sold to the highest bidder at the Saffron Ball in Limerick’s Hilton Hotel on November 2.

Pat O’Sullivan, who runs the Master Chefs catering company’s Limerick division, has the jacket.

Mr O’Sullivan, who did the catering for the star’s lavish wedding bash at Castle Hyde, said: “I was down recently and when I told Michael about the Saffron Ball, he offered me one of his magnificent jackets. It was very kind of him.”

The CARI foundation and the Bubble Gum Club charities will benefit from the proceeds of the ball.

A team of celebrity chefs will prepare the six-course banquet.

Mr O’Sullivan said: “As well as our own chefs we will be joined in the kitchen by Richard Corrigan, Kevin Thornton and Derry Clarke.”

The CARI foundation provides child- centred therapy as well as counselling for children, families and groups who have been affected by child sex abuse.

Proceeds from the Saffron Ball will go towards developing a CARI child therapy house on the Ennis Road.

The Bubble Gum Club will use money raised through the Saffron Ball to take terminally-ill children and their medics on a skiing holiday to Club Med in France in March.