London Daily Mirror:: DMR 12 Dec 97
Sick Flatley To Dance In For Awards
Richie Taylor's Column (686) By Richie Taylor

Super-hoofer Michael Flatley will defy doctor's orders and fly to Dublin later this month for a prestigious awards ceremony. The millionaire dancer is currently resting at a secret location after collapsing on stage in Brisbane last month. Flatley was forced to cancel the rest of his Australian and New Zealand tour and send his dance troupe back home.

Doctors have told him he needs complete rest until at least the middle of January. But the star is to appear at the National Entertainment Awards in Dublin on December 28. An insider said, "Michael is determined to make it to the awards. Ireland is very close to his heart. It was in Dublin that Riverdance first took off." The Irish-American star also gave viewers a preview of Lord Of The Dance at the same awards two years ago.

Meanwhile, a second Lord Of The Dance touring troupe is now on the road in America playing to between 3,000 and 5,000 fans per night.

Boyzone's Ronan Keating and RTE star Carrie Crowley are to co-host the awards. U2, Flatley himself, Boyzone, The Corrs and The Carter Twins are all short-listed for gongs.
 

Return to the History Room