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LAST UPDATE | 19 Jul
THE FACE OF Riverdance has not ruled out a presidential run.
Michael Flatley was coy about the possibility on RTÉ Radio One’s Brendan O’Connor earlier today, saying that he has been approached by many people who have asked about his intentions to run. He said that this is something he “takes seriously”.
“I’ve not made the decision, but I have a team of advisers that are advising me on this. I have a huge business to run,” Flatley said.
“I have an army of dancers counting on me to make a living. I have a whiskey company, a beautiful young wife and son that I want to spend time with.
“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.”
Flatley said that he regularly meets “the average man” on the street. “I meet them all, and I hear their concerns,” he told the show, “and I’d be lying if I said they’re happy right now, and somebody has to speak for the Irish people.”
The 67-year-old said that he doesn’t think it’s necessary for another politician to take on the role of Uachtarán na hÉireann. ”It’s a statesman’s role, but I spent the last 30 years of my life touring the world promoting Ireland and Irish culture.”
Despite his reticence in outright declaring his intention to run for the role, Flatley went on to describe his own actions as a statesman.
“I’ve met them all. I’ve met the Bushes, the Obamas, Trump, Putin. I’ve met the Clintons. I’ve met the king and queen of England. I’ve met the king and queen of Sweden and of Spain.
“I’ve met all those people on a more cultural front, more to promote the country. And I think maybe that’s what the job of president is all about.”
Asked if he had been approached by a political party, Flatley said that he hadn’t, but has been “approached by some very weighted individuals… people in the know.”
He concluded on the assertion that he has not made a decision, “but it does get frustrating when you see the hard-working Irish taxpayer working as hard out and having no say in things.
“Let it be said that I stand for Ireland and the Irish people, Sin é.”
Independent TD Catherine Connolly is the only candidate to have formally launched her campaign.
Mairead McGuinness has been confirmed as Fine Gael’s candidate but has yet to be formally ratified.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, Kerry TD and Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae ruled himself out of the presidential race.
It’s after broadcaster and former Fine Gael TD Ivan Yates claimed in an interview with BreakingNews.ie that Healy-Rae could be a “dark horse”.
Healy-Rae said he has a “very clear focus” on being a TD for Kerry.
However, he added that Flatley is an “excellent ambassador for our traditions of dance and music”.
“He’s a person that I know personally, and he’s a very, very nice gentleman,” said Healy-Rae.
“I wish him every good luck in every endeavour that he would ever had, but you can be sure of one thing, whatever name is going to be on that piece of paper, it’s not going to be me.”
When asked if he would support Flatley’s bid, Healy-Rae said: “I wish Michael Flatley every good luck, as I would wish everybody else, but I am not going to be coming out and signing nomination papers for any person.”
He also expressed hope that the presidential race will be a “clean campaign” with no “nasty and dirty campaigns”.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny said his party is “having a discussion” on whether to put forward a Sinn Féin candidate.
“Many people feel that as the largest opposition party, we should be running somebody,” said Kenny.
“Other people think we shouldn’t and we should be backing somebody from a broad left-alliance.
“It’s up in the air, we are considering it and we will take our time considering it.
“The election isn’t going to be until November, so there’s plenty of time to work out the details of all of this.”
-With additional reporting from Diarmuid Pepper
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