Michael Flatley hints that a presidential run could be on the cards

In an interview with RTÉ’s Brendan O’Connor on Saturday, the dancer said "no comment" when asked about a possible run for the Arás [Presidential home] next year after detailing his ongoing cancer treatment.

When O’Connor told Flatley that listeners "want you to run for President", he cryptically replied: "Well, no comment", then adding "I’m flattered that they are saying that… how blessed am I, Brendan? Thank you, God".

Flatley was also evasive when asked about reports he and F1 entrepreneur pal Eddie Jordan are in talks to buy the London Irish rugby club.

"That’s something I can’t comment on right now," he said, adding of Jordan: "He’s having a few health issues at the moment.

"Listen, I love Eddie, I love Ireland and I love rugby… that’s all I can tell you."

Remission

Flatley earlier revealed that he is currently in remission following surgery for an "aggressive" form of cancer.

Of his ongoing health struggles, he said: "I’m up and down. I’m still going in for treatments pretty regularly. But I don’t give in easy; I am a man of faith, Brendan, I highly recommend it – it got me through a lot of the tough times.

"I’m good, I’m not concerned anymore like I was. They put me on some medication, even recently, and it’s hard.

"Taking it, some days I don’t know what planet I’m on until I get my senses straight. It’s just pounding in the water and going for runs as much as I can, whatever little bit I can get out of me.

"But yeah, the medication is the hard part, that’s really the difficult bit."

Emotional

He said of his illness: "It makes you think to yourself; have I done enough in life? Have I given enough to people? Have I been true to myself?"

In the course of an emotional interview, Flatley also spoke about his love of his late parents, Michael Sr and Eilish Flatley.

"I’d have nothing without my parents, I’d be nobody," he said.

Flatley is about to tour a new show, "Lord of the Dance: A Lifetime of Standing Ovations", which will take in Belfast, Dublin and Castlebar in Co. Mayo, in January and December.

The "Riverdance" star will not perform in person in the show, but he will appear as a hologram.

A documentary about Flatley’s life, entitled "The Billion Dollar Dancer", was announced in September last year. But when asked if he would make a biopic about himself, Flatley – whose "Blackbird" spy movie was a high-profile flop – said: "No, it shouldn’t be me.

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.