Michael Flatley has confirmed plans to run for president of Ireland in the upcoming election.
The Lord of the Dance choreographer’s barrister told the court on Friday that he is to seek a nomination to become the next president of Ireland.
During a High Court case he has taken in relation to works carried out at his Cork mansion, his barrister, Ronnie Hudson, said that there was a “material change in circumstances”.
In fact, Michael plans to move back to Ireland within the fortnight.
An affidavit, signed by his solicitor Maxwell Mooney, was submitted to the court stating that the Irish-American is “to seek nominations to run for president of Ireland”.
To be eligible to run, a candidate must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older.
And Michael Flatley is eligible due to his Irish citizenship. He has also spoken recently about his ambitions for the Áras.
In a recent interview on RTÉ Radio 1, he spoke about the possibility of running for president.
“If I thought that I could be of benefit to the Irish people and maybe more importantly, if I thought I could be a voice of the Irish people. Right now, I don’t think they have a voice, not a true proper deep voice that you know that speaks their language,” he sauid.
He added that he often meets “the average man” on the street.
“I meet them all, and I hear their concerns and I’d be lying if I said they’re happy right now, and somebody has to speak for the Irish people.
”It’s a statesman’s role, but I spent the last 30 years of my life touring the world promoting Ireland and Irish culture.”
To run for president, the candidate must be nominated either by at least 20 members of the Irish parliament or at least four local authorities.
So far, we have two candidates in the running – EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who is the Fine Gael nominee and former Galway mayor Catherine Connolly who has received the backing of opposition parties and independents.
An election is expected towards the end of October, as it must take place in the 60 days before outgoing President Michael D Higgins’s term ends on November 11th.
