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Michael Flatley's Wife Niamh O'Brien Dies at 52
Confirmed
In Short: Riverdance star Michael Flatley mourns the loss of his wife, Niamh O'Brien, who died at 52.
Riverdance star Michael Flatley announced the death of his wife, Niamh O'Brien, on Instagram, expressing his profound grief. 'My heart is broken,' Flatley wrote, sharing several pictures of his wife and their son, Michael St James Flatley, born in 2007.
Sources close to the couple noted an immediate attraction between Flatley and O'Brien, who had performed in many of Flatley's shows. O'Brien died peacefully at Dublin's Beacon Hospital following an illness.
O'Brien's passing has left her family devastated. 'Niamh was a deeply loved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend,' said a statement from Flatley's representative. 'Her loss will be felt profoundly by her husband Michael, her son Michael St James, and her wider family and loved ones.'
The couple was planning to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary with a special event. 'On our 10th anniversary, we renewed our vows in Westminster Cathedral,' Flatley told RSVP Magazine in 2025. 'I have something very special planned for the 20th to renew our vows.'
Flatley's sister, Thomasina Griffin, expressed her condolences, writing, 'The most devastating day! I’m very blessed, I’m in love with my wife, who’s in love with me. I have lost my beautiful wife, Niamh, and my best friend.'
Flatley thanked the doctors, nurses, and staff at Beacon Hospital for their care and asked for privacy as they come to terms with the loss. '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,' he said.
The couple's relationship was marked by mutual respect and love. 'I don’t remember us ever having a bad word,' Flatley said. 'I’m the luckiest guy in the world.'
Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course, and the family has asked for privacy as they grieve.
In a sworn statement to the court, Flatley mentioned that his family had 'all suffered ill health since moving back to Castlehyde,' adding, 'I believe I was one of the fittest people in Ireland, and despite the same, I developed cancer.'
What's confirmed
- They had their one and only child together, Michael Saint James, the following year.
- “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.” Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course, she added.
What's still developing
- Victoria Smurfit said: "No. Michael, am so incredibly sorry to hear this shocking news. All love to you and your lad. She was a beauty inside and out."
- Boyzone's Keith Duffy wrote: "My prayers are with you Michael and for the safe passage for Niamh’s journey to her place in heaven."
- I shouldn’t have just said that, my wife is going to know all about this!
- I’m the luckiest guy in the world.' Michael told the online publication at the time that he felt 'very blessed' that he married the right person. 'Marry the right person.
- Michael Douglas is letting go of all his secrets in his new memoir.
- At the time, Douglas was still married to his first wife, Diandra Luker, although he has said they were separated and living separate lives.
- "I’m so so sorry to hear this terrible news. Sending deepest condolences," said Angela Scanlon, while Drag Race star Michelle Visage wrote: "I’m so very sorry for this massive loss for you and your family."
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- "The truth is that during the production of Romancing the Stone, Kathleen and I fell hard for each other and began a relationship," he wrote in an excerpt obtained by People.
- "It wasn’t a fly-by night affair; it grew naturally from how closely we were working together, how much pressure we were under, how much we respected and cared for one another, and how attracted we were to each other. Like every other guy in the world at the time, I was knocked sideways by Kathleen."
- He wrote that when he left home to film the movie, he and Luker were "still technically married, but separated," and that while audiences were "certain for years that we were in a relationship together" while making the movie, they denied it, even through the making of the sequel and years later when they reunited on "The Kominsky Method."
- He went on to say that his "relationship with Jeanne lasted through production," but that they "went our separate ways" once they were done making the film.