Niamh O'Brien, dancer and wife of Michael Flatley, dies at 52

Niamh O'Brien, dancer and wife of Michael Flatley, dies at 52

Niamh O'Brien, a former lead performer in Lord of the Dance and the wife of Riverdance star Michael Flatley, has died at the age of 52.

Announcing her death on social media on Monday, Flatley said his "heart is broken".

"My gorgeous bride of twenty years has gone to the Lord in Heaven."

O'Brien was a renowned Irish dancer who performed the lead role of Saoirse in the Lord of the Dance shows.

Flatley described her as "the most loving mother, wife and person and our lives will never be the same without her".

The couple had a son, Michael St James, who was born in 2007.

A representative for Flatley said that O'Brien died peacefully at the Beacon Hospital in Dublin after an illness, Irish national broadcaster RTÉ reports.

"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 representative.

"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."