Professional dancer Ryan McShane was assaulted in Lurgan just days before he appears in the new series of Dancing With The Stars.
The 34-year-old was having dinner with his friends at the Courthouse Bar in his hometown on Sunday evening when he was struck.
He shared a photograph to his Instagram account in which he showed a cut and bruised eye and cheekbone.
The Co Armagh man says intends to be fully recovered in time to take part in the upcoming series of Dancing With the Stars.
In a post on Instagram with a series of snaps, Ryan said: “Not how I wanted to enter the new year but on Sunday evening I was assaulted after having dinner with with my friends in my home town.”
The dance pro thanked the staff at the Courthouse Bar as well as his girlfriend, Irish model Thalia Heffernan, for her support.
“Just want to thank the staff at the @courthouselurgan for looking after me… and my beautiful girlfriend @thaliaheffernan for always being by my side and looking after me, and keeping me smiling.
“5 days to @dwtsirl live show, I will be fighting fit and ready to go! Much love Ryan.”
Underneath, Thalia posted: “Onward and upward.”
The RTE series of Dancing with the Stars is an Irish version of the hugely popular Uk TV show Strictly Come Dancing.
