MICHAEL Flatley is set to become Lord of the Island after lodging a planning application to build an exclusive off-shore retreat.
The dancer has asked for permission to build a new 848-sq m second home on a 56-acre plot on Rossmore Island.
Flatley -- who is approaching his 50th birthday -- paid €4m-plus last year for the land on the island off the south Kerry coast.
Unlike the more remote islands, Rossmore is directly connected to the mainland by bridge -- which means the gourmet dining and social attractions of Kenmare, Sneem and Parknasilla are only minutes' drive away.
He has requested permission to demolish an existing house on the site and to build a dwelling and associated works.
The application was lodged last week but a decision is not expected from Kerry County Council for several months.
It is understood he hired a team of top architects to design a dream holiday home for himself, his wife Niamh and their son, Michael Jnr. The star is understood to want a house that will reflect the wild nature of the area and fit in sympathetically with the environment.
The Chicago-born star already owns four homes -- his €50m mansion at Castlehyde in north Cork; his Georgian townhouse in Knightsbridge, London; his stunning villa in Monte Carlo and his holiday complex in Barbados.
Ironically, when he travels to the US he prefers to stay with his Illinois-based family.
However, he spends the bulk of his time at Castlehyde Manor in Fermoy. Flatley bought it for less than €4m eight years ago -- although it ultimately cost him almost €50m to return it to its 18th Century glory.
Castlehyde is now flood proof and boasts its own climate-controlled wine cellars, whiskey room, pool room, indoor gym, cinema and music room. The house also boasts an eight-bay reinforced garage, which houses his priceless collection of Rolls-Royce, Mercedes and Ferrari cars.
Edel Kennedy
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
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