Michael Flatley blames €30m Cork castle for life-threatening cancer diagnosis

Michael Flatley, the iconic Riverdance star, has made the startling claim that his €30 million castle is to blame for his cancer diagnosis.

The 65-year-old performer, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer 18 months ago but has since undergone successful surgery and is no longer in treatment, suspects toxic chemicals in his opulent home are at fault.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “I was one of the fittest people in Ireland. But when we moved back in I never felt right, and all of a sudden I got cancer.”

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He added, “All of a sudden I’ve developed asthma too. How did this happen? We must have been breathing in toxins. We were told to leave immediately and we’ve been living in hotels ever since.”

Flatley is currently embroiled in a legal tussle over his Cork estate, Castlehyde manor, alleging that it contains dangerous levels of toxic chemical residue, particularly on the walls of the pool, spa, and cinema areas. After a fire forced him and his family to vacate the 18th-century mansion in 2016, Michael believes his health took a turn for the worse upon their return.

He’s now taking legal action against a renovation contractor and three insurance underwriters, accusing them of negligence, endangerment, misrepresentation, and breach of duty and contract, though all parties have denied the allegations and the case remains unresolved. Despite the legal wrangling, Michael is preparing to hit the road once more, planning a tour this summer, marking his first performances since retiring in 2016.

Michael feels like he’s been granted a new lease on life after beating cancer, and as The Sun reports, he said: “God gave me this little bit of talent to share with the world. He challenged me by knocking me off my high horse when I got fired from Riverdance and gave me the chance to come back and do it all again. My reward was my beautiful wife and son. Who could have imagined an Irish jig would outsell the biggest rock bands in the world? I’m proud of that and all the dancers who give everything to help me achieve my dream.”