Michael Flatley is to be given the freedom of Sligo early next year. Town councillors agreed this week, following consultation with Flatley, to confer the honour on February 25th. Flatley has frequently referred to his love for the county of his roots.
His father, Michael, emigrated to Chicago from the village of Culfadda. The dancer has visited the area on a number of occasions - in September he launched the Sligo Live music festival and last year he accompanied New York city mayor Michael Bloomberg who unveiled a monument to the memory of the Fighting 69th, a regiment distinguished in the US civil war. As a freeman of Sligo, he will join a distinguished list that includes Countess Constance Markievicz.