Any good? I imagine so …
Heck, win one for free if you can get past the tricky question. 
Subjective question, but one I would like an honest question to an honest question.
What represents his best work as far as traditional music?
What an awkward post.
You can listen to old traditional tracks from his 1st CD, down at the bottom of
http://www.michaelflatley.com/flute/
and make up your own mind.
The “Latest Tunes” on that site aren’t my cup of tea — somewhat bombastic in my strictly personal and noncredentialled opinion.
His playing does sound fine, though, if you can get past the flash. Maybe someday he’ll favor us with a trad outing, if only to shut us up.
It’s a 2-CD set. The last time I saw the project described, it was to be 1 disc modern, 1 disc traditional.
Okay, I’m in for the raffle! That was a tricky question…
His modesty is inspiring, isn’t it? I mean isn’t it just? To be so fabulous, so utterly fabulous at everything and so rich, and to only say it in passing, here and there, on every page? Golly… 
Just kidding. He of course a very talented man, it’s just the “my house is worth 100 million Euros” that made me think about modesty.
[Thread revival. - Mod]
Just happened to listen again to Michael’s old tracks from his 1979 flute album (at the bottom part of the page are mp3’s from this album, http://www.michaelflatley.com/flute/).
I think it’s really good stuff, top-notch. I just can’t think of another dancer who was also a top musician/instrumentalist in the same discipline. Seems remarkable to me. It’s like a ballerina also being a concert violinist; just doesn’t happen.
Sure he’s a bit gaudy, but his dancing is excellent, his fluting is superb, and he’s the highest paid dancer ever being worth $700 million. I mean, come on…
Just curious, MF says he won the 1rst all Ireland at 17, in 1975. Then several consecutive. That would make him a multiple Sr. All Ireland champion. Is that true?! I wasn’t aware of that. He’s a fine player but multiple Sr. All Ireland champ! Fair play to him for winning as a Jr. though.
I don’t think that is correct. Wikipedia has a list of all the senior All-Ireland Fleadh Champions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_All-Ireland_Fleadh_champions#Flute_.28Fead.C3.B3g_Mh.C3.B3r.29
The album is available on Spotify btw.
Of course it’s not true. But it does say that in his bio. The one at www.michaelflatleyireland.com. Three consecutive all Ireland’s for flute. The first at age 17 in 1975. The following two he would have to have been Senior. Peg McGrath won the Sr. On flute in 1976 and Pat Moloney won the Sr. in 1977. I don’ t believe he won the Chicago golden gloves boxing title either but that is also stated.
Just went to www.michaelflatleyireland.com. this is a new, re-vamped site. The one I found googling was an older version of the site. On the new one, it says he won AN all Ireland. Somebody must have called him on it and it looks like his story changed. Why such an obviously successful man would need to “fake” his credendials is beyond me! Human nature I guess.
Revamped? I don’t think that is actually his personal website.
Looks fan made and it’s gotta rank as one of the most sh’itty designed web sites I’ve ever seen.
This has been discussed here before. Michael Flatley won the 16-18 All Ireland age group, and was recorded on an LP made at the Buncrana Fleadh in 1975. You’ll love this - in the 1976 Fleadh programme, there is a page listing the “Reigning Champions”. 16 - 18 concert flute is “M.Flattery” His name appears as a competitor, again in the 16 - 18 age group, in the 1976 Fleadh programme.
[ As an aside, some of the other competitors were :- Marcus Hernon, Diarmuid O’Cionnaith [ made a very good CD with a trio “Calua” ], Michael Hurley and Tom Guihan. Very high standard of competitor there ]. I don’t know whether or not he showed up, as I didn’t go to that competition. So in 1976, he was still in 16 - 18 age group, at least, according to the programme.
He was a competitor in the Senior All-Ireland in Ennis in 1977, and as I recall, had a play-off for 3rd place against Mick Gavin from Dublin. Patsy Moloney of Birmingham was judged winner. I think I still have recordings from that competition.
I don’t know if he was ever a competitor after 1977.
The above is all true, because I was at the Fleadhs in 76 and 77, and still have the programmes.
PS - just found the “Reigning Champions” page in the 1977 programme. 16 - 18 concert flute is “M.Flatley” - at least they got his name right that time. So it looks like he won the 16 - 18 age group 2 years running, but never the Senior.
Thanks for the info Kenny. You’ve a great memory. That’s a great accomplishment for MF. I’m impressed. I’ll cringe a little less now when I see him in interviews and such. LOL. Sorry for reviving an old topic. I’m usually over in the whistle forum. I did a search here first but couldn’t find anything. As you were everybody.
FWIW, he was part of a Comhaltas tourgroup and recorded two tracks for the lp that group did. The blurb doesn’t mention any all Irelands (which it definitely would if there were any to mention). I have the lp here, it’s from 1983, CL:26, ‘Comhaltas on Tour’, the other fluteplayer in the line up was John Carlos.
and also Marcas O’Murchu, Mr.G. 1983 was a good tour for flute players, it seems.
Séamus Ennis’ father James was also one of those that would win both piping and dancing competitions as well. It is quite rare indeed.