Flatley aims to dance to the edge of the world

THE dance shoes may be hung up but the first thing to catch the eye just inside the door of Castlehyde on a rainy Friday lunchtime was Michael Flatley’s golf shoes.

The dancer, musician and ex-boxer has a handicap of 14 and he still uses his visits home to the north Cork mansion to get onto the driving range, where 4-year-old son Michael St James Flatley takes a keen interest.

With work keeping Michael in London most of the time, he is currently based there with wife Niamh, and it is where little Mikey will start school next month. But the proud father does not rule out a more permanent residency on the banks of the Blackwater just outside Fermoy: “I would love nothing more than if he could spend more time here and right now it’s all just a matter of keeping them close to me. We just never want to leave Castlehyde when we’re here.”