When Super Hoofer, and Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley, fiancee Niamh O’Brien, and over 200 high profile guests, sat down to their wedding dinner this weekend, they were dining on Limerick’s very best seasonal produce.
Masterchef, a Limerick-based company, secured one of the most lucrative catering contract of the year in the wedding, which took place last Saturday, in Flatley’s mansion at Fermoy.
Managing Director of Masterchef, Pat O’Sullivan said, "The wedding is a huge boost to the local economy as all our suppliers are Limerick-based companies who provide indigenous and local produce. This isn’t just a showcase for us but for many local producers also”.
The company was up against three other Irish caterers, all Dublin based, but won the tender on the basis that Mr Flatley had attended a prior Masterchef event and knew of the company’s reputation.
Masterchef has spent months planning every detail of the event with Mr Flatley who, O’Sullivan admits, is somewhat of a perfectionist.
Although he would not divulge what culinary delights the couple and their guests were digging into at the wedding banquet, Mr O’Sullivan said that the traditional Irish menu was seasonal and geared towards the season that was in it.
"It’s fair to say it will be an elaborate and extravagant affair,” he said.
The Limerick-based company catered to the 200 plus guests, who were invited to Castlehyde House for the wedding reception.
Michael & Niamh |
Although speculation was rife that the likes of Bill Clinton, Gerry Ryan, John Magnier, Michael Smurfit and Albert Reynolds were amongst those attending, Mr O’Sullivan could not be drawn into specifics.
However, he admitted that the wedding photos included some "internationally recognisable faces”.
But Mr O’Sullivan is not flustered by such a high profile affair. The company deals with high profile guests "week in, week out”.
They were operators and caterers for Marilyn Manson’s four-day wedding extravaganza, which took place in Kilshane House, Tipperary, back in December 2005.
In fact, the Flatley wedding is the latest in a string of high-profile marriages that have taken place in the country in recent years.
Mr O’Sullivan says that more and more celebrities are choosing Ireland due to the country’s laid-back attitude toward celebrities, and a growing reputation for top-of-the-range food, service and accommodation.
"Ireland has gradually built up a reputation as a quality provider of accommodation and a quality food provider, as is apparent with all the celebrities that have been getting married here in the last couple of years. It’s phenomenal.”
Michael Flatley earned international recognition after Riverdance was debuted at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. The show became a worldwide phenomenon, launching Flatley as a household name.
The 48-year-old has an estimated worth of 500 million euro and his legs are rumoured to be insured for 40 million euro.
He married Meath-born Niamh O’Brien, who danced alongside Flatley in his most recent show, Celtic Tiger.
