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MICHAEL FLATLEY WEDS HIS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE IN IRELAND

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16 OCTOBER 2006

Irish eyes were smiling last weekend as Michael Flatley said "I do". Thousands of well-wishers turned out to see the 49-year-old dancer and his beautiful bride Niamh O'Brien tie the knot at St Patrick's Church in Fermoy, County Cork.

The couple, who were both a fashionable 50 minutes late for the 2pm service, were the picture of elegance for their big day. Niamh, also a professional dancer who has performed in all of Michael's shows, drew gasps of admiration from onlookers as she arrived in her beau's Rolls Royce Phantom wearing an £80,000 vintage Badgley Mischka dress. She accessorised the empire-line affair with a simple fish-tail veil, a strand of large white pearls and a bouquet of deep-red roses. Michael, meanwhile, looked dapper in white tie and black tailcoat.

Niamh's retired schoolteacher father Thomas walked his daughter up the aisle and her two sisters were bridesmaids while Michael's brother Patrick was the best man. "I feel ecstatic," said her mother after the service. "It was very emotional." The 250-strong wedding party then continued on to the Lord Of The Dance star's stately Castlehyde mansion where they enjoyed a six-course gourmet meal including Irish lobster washed down with vintage champagne.

Unsurprisingly the lavish reception turned into something of a showbiz spectacular. Guests were treated to dancing by past and present cast members from Michael's many productions such as Riverdance and the multi-millionaire host also joined Irish folk band The Chieftains on stage for a 30-minute jamming session. But the highlight was the newlyweds' first dance as the light-footed duo took to the dance floor to the tune of Frank Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon.

Michael and Niamh won't have long to recover from the day's festivities, though. They left for a secret 2-day honeymoon, reported to be a castle in County Kerry, before returning to complete gruelling rehearsals as another tour of Michael's latest dance extravaganza Celtic Tiger kicks off next month.