Michael Flatley Mourns Death of Wife Niamh
The 'Lord of the Dance' star announced his wife's passing on Instagram, calling her his 'beautiful wife' and 'best friend'.
Michael Flatley has announced the death of his wife, Niamh, after 20 years of marriage.
The star of "Lord of the Dance" shared a statement on his Instagram account Monday evening, asking for prayers for his family.
"My heart is broken. I have lost my beautiful wife, Niamh, and my best friend. My gorgeous bride of twenty years has gone to the Lord in Heaven," Flatley wrote, sharing several photographs of his wife, including one from their wedding day.
He continued, "She was the most loving mother, wife and person, and our lives will never be the same without her. Thank you for all the love and kindness you have shown us. Please keep Niamh, Michael St James, and our family in your thoughts and prayers."
Sources close to Flatley described him as "distraught, devastated and utterly grief stricken."
Niamh, who was also a professional dancer, began performing at age three and appeared in "Riverdance," "Lord of the Dance," "Feet of Flames," and "Celtic Tiger." She met Michael Flatley on the set of "Riverdance" and was part of the famous lineup during the 1994 Eurovision interval performance. The couple began their romantic relationship in 2006 and married later that year in Fermoy, County Cork. They welcomed their son, Michael Saint James, in 2007.
In a 2013 interview with Piers Morgan, Flatley referred to his wife as his "best friend," describing her as "highly intelligent," "extraordinarily beautiful, inside and out," and a "loyal true blue."
Flatley also spoke in an interview with the Irish Independent last year about Niamh being his support during his battle with cancer. He recounted an experience in a hospital bed, stating, "I was haemorrhaging and convulsing on a hospital bed and I kept passing out. They couldn't give me the painkillers necessary... I will never forget opening my eyes one of the times that I came to, and my wife was there. And my wife was smiling. Can you imagine the courage from my wife, to put on a smile in that position? The courage that took?"