Michael Flatley has announced that his wife of two decades, Niamh O’Brien, has died at the age of 52, having spent several weeks unwell
Michael Flatley’s wife, Niamh, has died(Image: PA)
Michael Flatley’s wife, Niamh, has died. The Lord of the Dance legend shared the shattering news on his Instagram page alongside a string of pictures of his late wife, who was just 52, and had been battling ill health “over the past few weeks”.
Michael, 68, said of his wife, who took on the role of Saoirse in Lord of the Dance: “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.
“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. Michael.”
As he shared the devastating news, Michael also included a photograph alongside Niamh on their wedding day, as well as a picture with their son, Michael Saint James – known as Michael Junior.
A spokesperson for Michael said: “The Flatley and O’Brien families are devastated by Niamh’s sudden passing and have asked that their privacy be respected as they come to terms with this heartbreaking loss.
“They express their sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Beacon Hospital who cared for Niamh over the past few weeks, and to everyone who has offered their kindness and support to the family.” They added that details surrounding Niamh’s funeral would be shared in due course.
The Irish Independent claims that Niamh had been “hours away” from being flown to America for specialist treatment. In recent years, Niamh had been battling ill health, with Michael reportedly spending “every waking hour,” to care for Niamh.
Sources have claimed that Michael has been left “distraught, devastated and utterly grief-stricken,” following the death of his wife. Despite being unwell, Niamh continued her work as part of Michael’s touring productions, working alongside costume designers, service providers and dancers.
Michael previously entered the Irish presidential race in 2025 but just weeks after announcing the news, he pulled out and stated that he “must put my family and my health first.”
Niamh started dancing aged just three and later became a performer with Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Fleet of Flames and Celtic Tiger. The dancer first met Michael on the set of Riverdance before appearing in the Riverdance line-up during their performance at the interval of Eurovision in 1994.
Sources previously said that there was an instant attraction between the couple. They started dating one another in 2006, before marrying in Co Cork later that same year, with Niamh arriving at the ceremony in Michael’s Rolls-Royce Phantom, while wearing a specially made Badgley Mischka dress, costing an eye-watering £80,000.
The pair were able to have a Catholic wedding ceremony, as Michael’s first marriage in a civil wedding was not recognised by Catholic canon law.
Following their religious ceremony, the pair celebrated surrounded by family and friends at Michael’s historic estate in Cork. Just a year later, the happy couple welcomed their son, Michael Saint James. Throughout their marriage, the couple would enjoy dinner together every Friday in their formal dining room and share a dance to keep the spark going.
Earlier this year, Michael said that he had “something very special planned” ahead of their 20th anniversary. Speaking to RSVP Magazine, Michael said: “On our 10th anniversary, we renewed our vows in Westminster Cathedral, because at the time my son was going to Westminster Cathedral Choir School.
“I have something very special planned for the 20th to renew our vows. I shouldn’t have just said that, my wife is going to know all about this! But I won’t say what it is, and I won’t tell her. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
Niamh and Michael were last seen in public together in August, celebrating Michael Smurfit’s 90th birthday in Monaco. Speaking about Niamh, Michael said in 2013: “She is highly intelligent. She is my best friend. She is extraordinarily beautiful, inside and out. I am proud to be her husband. I am blessed to have her. She is a loyal true blue.”
She was also a support for Michael as he prepared to undergo surgery while being treated for cancer. Speaking to the Irish Independent last year, Michael said: “I was haemorrhaging and convulsing on a hospital bed and I kept passing out.
“They couldn’t give me the painkillers necessary. There were some wonderful nurses that were trying to help me, but they were invisible to me because of the pain, but 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?” Speaking to VIP in 2024, Michael said of Niamh: “Y’know I married my best friend.
“Niamh is a special person, we just fit together and I am blessed to have her. Since the day she said ‘yes’ my life has been perfect. We’ve had a few ups and downs but she’s always standing with me going through whatever it is.”
He went on to add: “You won’t believe it, my wife Niamh was in the original Riverdance and for all the great things that have come into my life since I created Riverdance, the greatest thing I got was my wife.”
That same year, he told the Sunday World that God was “Certainling smiling down on me when Niamh said ‘yes’.” And despite his career and personal success, Michael once stated: “Of all the things I’ve got out of my dance career, my wife takes first place.”
Having worked in various jobs before finding success, Michael eventually attracted the attention of the then-President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, and dance-show bosses and was asked to help create a show for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. It was then that Riverdance was born and subsequently made into a full-length show.
Just a year later, he left the show to pursue Lord of the Dance, which has toured across the world and seen the likes of Nadine Coyle take on the role of Goddess Erin. In 1997, two years after the debut of Lord of the Dance, the show saw Michael take home around £36 million, making him the 25th-highest-earning entertainer in the world.
To date, it’s estimated that Lord of the Dance has been seen by over 60 million people worldwide, selling out not just theatres but also arenas and stadiums. The production has grossed an approximate £770 million, making it one of the highest-grossing stage and dance productions.
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