Newly wed Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley remained in a London hospital today with a serious illness.

Mr Flatley's aides cancelled all European tour dates for his latest production, Celtic Tiger, including two shows in Dublin in early December.

He had been scheduled to start a 20-city European tour in Zürich tomorrow.

His publicist said the dancer had been receiving treatment in hospital for several days.

"There are no further details at the moment but to say he has been in for several days," she said.

It is understood the dancer is suffering from an aggressive viral infection.

His pregnant wife, Niamh O'Brien, is with him in the London hospital where he is being treated.

A spokeswoman for Aiken Promotions today confirmed that the Dublin dates on December 2 and 3 had been cancelled. She apologised for any inconvenience caused.

She said it was hoped new dates could be rescheduled but, at this stage, could not confirm when.

"Celtic Tiger Touring Inc has cancelled all European dates for Celtic Tiger starring Michael Flatley due to serious illness.

"Michael Flatley is in hospital and is unavailable for comment."

The 49-year-old dancer married Ms O'Brien in a lavish ceremony in Co Cork last month after a whirlwind romance.

Father Aidan Troy, who married the couple, said he had spoken to Mr Flatley in hospital a fortnight ago.

Fr Troy, the parish priest of Holy Cross in north Belfast, said: "I spoke to him about two weeks ago and he was in hospital in London.

"I asked him at the time how he was and he said: 'Fine. I'll be out in a while'."

Belfasttelegraph.co

Flatley could lose €2m for no-shows

THE mystery illness afflicting Michael Flatley has left Irish promoters counting the cost following the cancellation of two sell-out performances of his Celtic Tiger stage show, writes Jan Battles. Flatley himself could lose up to €2m if the tour is not insured.

More than 7,000 of the 12,000 tickets sold for Celtic Tiger on December 2 and 3 have already been refunded to fans as the dates have not been rescheduled. The Dublin performances at The Point are among 15 that were cancelled on Wednesday after Flatley succumbed to a viral infection that left him hospitalised in London.

“If you don’t know when the date is going to be, you can’t hold onto a show,” said Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions. “Of course it’s disappointing for us, but you move on.”

Aiken said neither his company nor The Point would receive compensation. Nor will they be pursuing the dancer. “It’s not done in our industry,” Aiken said. “We all take it on the chin and move on. Michael Flatley is not going away, he’s going to be around for a long time, whether dancing or producing.”

Flatley, 48, who is worth €551m according to The Sunday Times Rich List, fell ill shortly after his wedding to Niamh O’Brien in Fermoy, Co Cork on October 15.

Timesonline