|  Michael
J. Flatley was born on September 23, 1927 in County Sligo, Ireland. Mike came
to America in 1949 and made a living in the trades, ending up in Chicago where he had
a plumbing company since 1971. He married his wife Eilish in Detroit and they had five
children.
Coming from the famous Coleman Country he was imbued with an avid interest in Traditional
Irish music and culture. Consequently, he became involved with the "Irish Musicians
Association of Chicago" first becoming their Treasurer and eventually President.
As a result he instituted many changes that exist today such as remuneration for the
Chicago musicians who not only performed at an immense number of occasions in Chicago
but also put in long hard days at the Feisenna.
As far as we know, during his administration ad books were sold and trophies secured
here in Chicago to develop greater interest in traditional arts in the area - all under
the auspicies of Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann.
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