Michael Flatley Says His 'Heart Is Broken' After Death of Wife Niamh O'Brien

Irish dancer and choreographer Michael Flatley says his "heart is broken" following the death of his wife, Niamh O'Brien, according to a report from the BBC.

O'Brien was a renowned Irish dancer in her own right, known for performing the lead role of Saoirse in Flatley's celebrated show Lord of the Dance, one of the most successful Irish dance productions in the show's history.

Flatley, who rose to international fame as the creator and star of Lord of the Dance and Riverdance, shared his grief publicly following O'Brien's death, according to the report, though further details about the circumstances of her death were not included.

O'Brien's performances as Saoirse helped define one of the show's central roles for audiences around the world, contributing to Lord of the Dance's reputation as a defining production within the modern Irish dance genre.

Tributes to O'Brien are likely to come from across the Irish dance community, given her standing as a performer in one of the genre's best-known international productions, though no additional statements beyond Flatley's were detailed in the available report.