‘Dancing Priest’ wanted to meet Thatcher

An Irish priest, who infamously interrupted the 2003 British grand prix and 2004 Olympics men’s marathon, asked the Government for assistance in arranging a meeting with Margaret Thatcher in 1983.

Documents released under the 30-year rule show that Fr Neil Horan, known as “the Dancing Priest” had arrived late for a scheduled meeting between his group of Irish singers, musicians and dancers from Co Kerry and the British prime minister in London in September 1983.

In a letter to the Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald, Fr Horan blamed himself for the late arrival of the majority of the group, adding that the event was “a real fiasco”. “We felt we left our country down,” the priest said.