American-Irish choreographer Michael Flatley is mourning his wife and fellow Irish dancer, Niamh O'Brien, who has died at 52.
The "Riverdance" star announced her death in an Oct. 5 Instagram tribute, remembering the woman with whom he shared a stage, a marriage and a son
"My heart is broken. I have lost my beautiful wife, Niamh, and my best friend," Flatley wrote. "My gorgeous bride of twenty years has gone to the Lord in Heaven. She was the most loving mother, wife and person, and our lives will never be the same without her."
Flatley thanked supporters for their kindness and asked them to keep O'Brien, their son Michael St. James, 18, and the family in their prayers. The post included photographs of O'Brien performing, the couple on their wedding
day and their family.
Niamh O'Brien cause of death
O'Brien died peacefully at Beacon Hospital in Dublin after an illness, a representative said in a statement reported by the BBC.
"The Flatley and O'Brien families are devastated by Niamh's sudden passing and have asked that their privacy be respected as they come to terms with this heartbreaking loss," said the statement. "They express their sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Beacon Hospital who cared for Niamh over the past few weeks, and to everyone who has offered their kindness and support to the family."
The Irish Times reported that O'Brien had a longstanding lung condition that worsened over the past year. She had been scheduled to travel to the United States for a lung transplant but died before the procedure.
USA TODAY has reached out to to Flatley's rep for comment.
Niamh O'Brien performed alongside husband Michael Flatley
O'Brien, from Ireland's County Meath, competed in Irish dancing as a teenager and finished fourth at the world championships at 17, according to The Irish Times.
Her stage career included "Riverdance," "Feet of Flames" and "Celtic Tiger." She also played Saoirse, a lead role in "Lord of the Dance."
The couple married in County Cork in October 2006 and welcomed their son in 2007, according to The Irish Times.
Flatley, who rose to international prominence with "Riverdance" at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, later created "Lord of the Dance." In January 2023, his team announced he had undergone surgery for an "aggressive form of cancer."
Reflecting on his marriage in an interview published last year, Flatley told The Irish Times: "Of all the things I've got out of my dance career, my wife takes first place."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Flatley's wife Niamh O'Brien, 'Lord of the Dance' performer, dead at 52
