'Lord of the Dance' Michael Flatley may run for presidency

Michael Flatley shot to fame when he, Jean Butler, and Anúna performed the seven-minute Riverdance as the interval act during the live Eurovision final in 1994. File picture: PA

Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley is considering running for president, it has emerged.

Informed sources have indicated that the dancer and businessman is prepared to throw his hat into the ring and is seriously considering a race for the Áras.

The Riverdance star, who has spoken about his cancer battle and who is now in remission, lives in Monaco. He also has a mansion, Castlehyde, near Fermoy in North Cork.

Mr Flatley, who was among the invited guests at the White House in March when the Taoiseach handed over a bowl of shamrock to US president Donald Trump, is expected to make a final decision on whether to declare his interest in running in the coming weeks.

US ambassador to Ireland Edward S Walsh with Michael Flatley at the July 4 celebrations at the ambassador's residence in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

He was also in attendance at the US embassy in Dublin for the annual Fourth of July celebrations on Thursday where he entertained over 2,500 guests with a tune on the flute.

It is not clear whether the dancer will run as an independent candidate or if he is to be nominated by a political party.

However, senior sources within Fianna Fáil last night laughed off any suggestion that the dancer might be on the party ticket.

Parties consider possible candidates

It is expected that it could be as late as September before Micheál Martin publicly announces his party's candidate, with former ministers Peter Power and Mary Hanafin being rumoured,  along with MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.

"We are assessing it at the minute, we are not going to make any decision until late summer," a party spokesperson said.

Only last year on radio during an interview, Mr Flatley said he was "flattered" when he was told that fans would love to see him in Áras an Uachtaráin.

When he was pressed on the matter he declined to comment further.

Fine Gael has yet to formally select its candidate. 

However, former EU Commissioner Mairéad McGuinness and MEP and former GAA president Sean Kelly are the frontrunners.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin has yet to decide if it will put forward its own party candidate or join other left-leaning parties and back a consensus candidate.

The largely ceremonial role has a term of office of seven years with a maximum of 14 years. However, presidents such as Michael D Higgins, and former occupants Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson, have elevated the status of the role, frequently weighing in on matters of social justice and human rights, while also courting controversy at times for doing so.