Michael Flatley Announces Wife Niamh O'Brien's Death at 52

Michael Flatley, the Irish dancer and choreographer known for Lord of the Dance, announced the death of his wife, Niamh O'Brien, at age 52.

Us Weekly reports that Flatley, 68, posted the news on Instagram on Monday, Oct. 5. In the caption, he wrote that his heart was broken and that he had lost his beautiful wife and best friend. He described her as the most loving mother and wife and said their lives would never be the same without her. He signed the post with a heart emoji and asked for prayers for their family and their son, Michael St. James.

Flatley and O'Brien married in 2006 at a church in County Cork, Ireland, according to Us Weekly. Their son was born the following year.

Three years before O'Brien's death, the magazine notes, Flatley's team announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. A statement shared on his Instagram at the time said he had undergone surgery and was in the care of doctors. Flatley later spoke about his recovery during an appearance on The Late Late Show in May 2024. He said on the program that he is married to the greatest girl in the world, who looks after him and stands beside him, and that he cannot explain the love he has for his family.

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