‘I’ve never felt pain like this’, teary Michael Flatley tells wife Niamh’s funeral as son details couple’s ‘deep love’

TEARFUL Michael Flatley told mourners he has “never felt pain like this” as he paid an emotional tribute to his “dream girl” wife Niamh at her funeral.

The former lead performer in Lord of the Dance died aged just 52 this week after a long battle with a lung condition.

Niamh, who was married to dancer Michael for 20 years, was “surrounded by her loving family” when she passed away at Dublin’s Beacon Hospital on Monday.

This morning, her husband and son Michael St James led the tributes at her funeral service.

Riverdance and Lord of the Dance creator Michael stood bravely beside his 19-year-old son in the Church of St Therese in Mount Merrion, Dublin, to deliver his wife’s moving eulogy.

Michael, 68, said: “I hope you don’t mind, I brought my son for strength. He is my strength.”

And opening up on his agony, the emotional star continued: “I felt a lot of pain in my life — I was a boxer, pain as a dancer, when my parents died — but I can honestly tell you this morning, I’ve never felt pain like this in my life.”

Niamh performed the lead role of Saoirse in the Lord of the Dance shows alongside her famous hubby.

Mourners at her funeral included ex-Riverdance lead dancer Padraic Moyles, its co-founder John McColgan and actor Patrick Bergin.

Describing Niamh as “the love of my life”, Flatley told mourners how he felt “so lucky” to be her husband.

He said: “I can’t believe that I was so lucky that Niamh said yes to me. She wasn’t just my lady, the lady she was, she was my dream girl.

“She was my everything, she was the Lady of the Dance, she was the love of my life, she was the mother of our son, she was highly intelligent and the most beautiful girl in the world, my dream girl, Niamhy.

“We danced around the world for 20 years, and how well I remember her — she was always the dancer immediately on my left because she was the greatest dancer we ever had because she was the most beautiful girl in the world.”

Fighting back tears, Flatley told the congregation of the moment he proposed to Niamh.

He recalled: “I remember I had a place in Barbados, we were there. She was stunning in her beautiful white dress and she was in the middle of telling me a story but I wasn’t listening, I couldn’t stop staring at her big eyes, perfect face, her warmth, she just exuded love.

“Bloody fool, right in the middle of it, in the middle of a sentence, I said, ‘Will you marry me, Niamh?’

“Totally unexpected, and then I got down on the knee and said, ‘Will you marry me, Niamh?’

“She said yes, and my life changed forever, for the better. I was never the same again.”

Michael added: “The things that I found difficult my whole life were now done with ease by my wife.

“She was the calming force in my life, in every way. I was so lucky and so blessed to marry her, and the majority of people who saw us together agreed with that statement.”

Flatley also told how Niamh was later diagnosed with a long-standing lung condition, which deteriorated in the last year.

And he described the last three weeks as “unbearable” for his wife, as her health worsened.

He told the congregation: “The last three weeks were torturous and unbearable for her because she couldn’t breathe.

“Her sisters and her mother spent almost every single night at that hospital — what a family, absolutely incredible.

“She’s gone to Heaven but Heaven is everywhere, Heaven is around us all right here today. I believe Niamh is standing beside me right at this moment — I can feel her.”

Flatley played Niamh’s favourite tune on his flute, telling mourners that he looked forward to their next dance together in Heaven.

He declared: “I love you, Niamhy, my dream girl, and I’m looking forward to our next dance in Heaven together.”

Grieving teenage son Michael St James also delivered an emotional tribute from the altar.

He played Niamh’s favourite song Flying Without Wings on guitar as he hailed her “the best mother I could ever ask for”.

Michael St James said: “I knew at some point I was going to speak at my parents’ funerals, but I didn’t think it would happen for a while.

“As my dad was saying, I want to thank especially my mum’s parents and her sisters, my grandparents and my aunts, who put in countless hours.

“They put their lives on hold to make sure that she was always cared for and she always had support.

“And countless (nights) — they alternated night shifts to make sure she was never alone.”

He added: “I also want to thank my dad, who cared for her all the way. He helped clothe her and bathe her, and whatever assistance she needed, he was always there.

“And as I’m sure you can tell, the bond they had was extraordinary. The deep love they had for each other. Likewise, it went both ways. My mum was always there for him, to support him.”

Michael St James continued: “My mum would not complain in any capacity. She wanted no one to worry and she fought on.

“And my dad fought so hard to make sure that mum had the best care and every opportunity that she could possibly get.

“She was the most wonderful person. She was the best mother I could ever ask for. She put everyone else first, always.

“There’s too many stories I could tell of ways that she did things that were better for myself than herself.

“Even just recently, on her hospital bed, she bought me bedding for my new apartment, when clearly she had better things to be doing.

“I will always miss her, but I know she’s always here with us in spirit, and I know she’s always with me and the person that she raised me to be.”