Flatley Troubles Troubles

Michael Flatley is in trouble again. With Unionists. No, not the Trade Unions of bombastic eroto-religiosity or the Trade Unions of near-Nuremberg Rally worship for stage events. No, I am speaking of these agreeable Unionists - the ones about to return to Stormont and not appoint an executive

Although Flatley's previous dance extravaganza, Feet of Flames, reportedly wooed the province locals when he brought it to Stormont in the summer of 2000, this time, with Celtic Tiger, the oily-chested Irish-American is taking some stick.

DUP MP Gregory Campbell said yesterday:

To almost caricature the Protestant community in a particular way and to refer to Bloody Sunday and not refer to the context of the time in 1972, when two policemen, one Catholic and one Protestant, were murdered, in the days beforehand, [Flatley], like some others, is in danger of giving a totally inaccurate and prejudiced view of Northern Ireland.

There is an onus on Flatley or anyone else to present a reasonably balanced approach to sporting and cultural life in Northern Ireland

Oh Gregory, Flatley has caricatured thousands of years of history of Ireland, and of Britain and America for that matter, so why would you expect the eternal flautist in black leather trousers to get the last thirty right with regard to the Protestant community and recognize George Best over Damien Duff? If it was Ciaran Duff I could understand.

And having, on arrival of your flight to the US, your Aer Lingus stewardess striptease down to a stars-and-stripes bikini is not a reasonably balanced approach to cultural life anywhere. In reality it's hard enough to get a second cup of tea off them.

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