BRENDAN SHINE

DOMINIC KIRWAN

He began Irish Dancing in his home town of Omagh at the age of 4 joining the well respected Seamus Kerrigan school of Irish Dancing. Not long after, one of his primary school teachers approached his mother after a singing competition and informed her that her son had a very good voice. During the next few years, Dominic competed in all manner of singing and dancing competitions throughout Ireland and further afield, giving him valuable experience for the career that lay ahead.

 

Dominic’s first band, The Melody Boys, was formed in early 1979. The group played all over the North West of Ireland, learning their craft in local bars, Clubs, Dancehalls, Weddings and many other functions. He first went solo at the end of 1984, recording his first single called, “Alice Is in Wonderland,” now a collectors item amongst fans. All the while, he was entering talent contests the length and breadth of Ireland from U.T.V.’s Entertainer of The Year to Search for a Star on R.T.E. and even B.B.C.’s Opportunity Knocks. He finally managed to break through in 1988, winning two local radio talent shows, which led directly to his signing to Ritz Records soon after. Many of Dominic’s hits originate from this time, such as Noreen Bawn.  Thus began Dominic’s hectic touring schedule which would take him all over the globe, giving him the opportunity to work with such great music stars as Charlie Pride, Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rodgers, Don Williams and many others. More recently Dominic has been joined on stage with two of his sons Colm and Barry, both individual talents in their own right.

 

Amongst his peers and fans alike, Dominic’s live shows are regarded as some of the most vibrant and exciting in today’s music scene. With his rich voice and wide repertoire, there is always something to please even the most ardent music critic.

 

At present, Dominic has recorded over 14 studio albums and has also six live shows recorded on DVD, many of which, like his latest offering, “My Kinda Country,” have reached top positions in both British Album and DVD charts.  For this new album, Dominic has put together a selection of country songs that reflect both his love of the music and his respect for material, old and new.

DECLAN NERNEY

Declan was born in the heart of Ireland in Drumlish Co Longford, at a unique period of time in the music scene worldwide. A revolution in rock and pop brought us The Beatles, Elvis, and the Rolling Stones, while here in Ireland the magnificent showband boom was about to explode.

 

A young man growing up at that time, Declan was being heavily influenced by these greats and indeed was getting the rare opportunity to see most of the top showbands appear in his native town of Drumlish. He would cajole his mother into seeing Joe Dolan, Big Tom, Philomena Begley, The Capital Showband, and many more perform when the appeared at the marquee at the end of May and early June. From his vantage point close to the stage, he would absorb every move made by the guitarist in the bands, watching his fingers slide along the strings, hoping that one day he might be up there performing just like Dan O'Hara or Seamus McMahon...

 

And so the dream began

 

As a schoolboy strolling the lonely boreen to Ennybegs National School, kicking pebbles along the road, Declan wasn't dreaming of becoming a doctor or a lawyer or a farmer, instead he dreamed he would emulate the top names of show business.

 

Straight away he starting saving spare pennies in a jam-jar until £12 was saved, enough to buy a guitar he had been drooling over in the window of the local record shop in Longford. This led to many hours practicing along to radio and records.

 

The musical apprentice

 

At the early age of 16 it all began. He was invited to step in along with local showband The Hi-Lo's based in the Roscommon/Longford region, where he served his early musical apprenticeship. Later on he progressed to the Gene Stuart Band, and in later years to Brian Coll and the Buckaroos, when eventually he made the decision to start his own band in the late '80's. (Indeed this was the whole era that Declan's most popular true-life song was based upon - The Marquee in Drumlish). But more to the point this was the period that would form a musical ability in Nerney. Not alone has he a unique falsetto singing voice, but has a great musical ability, which combined to create a unique Declan Nerney sound. Some say that not since the days of the great Duane Eddy, one of Declan's heroes, has anybody come along with that great twanging guitar sound. Thus leaving Declan with an added ability to arrange and produce his own material.

 

Declan's musical interests and inspirations are wide and varied. He enjoys most well performed music, including Irish and Scottish traditional music, country from the earliest times up to todays 70's and 80's, even Thin Lizzy was a favourite of Declans.

 

A musical journey

 

Having recorded 8 top-selling albums to date, and established some great self-penned songs, together with song-writing maestro Henry McMahon, songs like Marquee in Drumlish, Anna from Fermanagh, Up in the Mornin', Christmas Hooley, Barry & Dunne, Three Way Love Affair, and many great cover versions like Stop the World and Let Me Off, Take this Job, Walkin' on New Grass. These powerful productions got Nerney on stages right around the world, places that he never dreamt of on that boreen all those years ago.

 

In 1990 he would sing to 65,000 people in Croke Park at half-time in the All-Ireland Final between Meath vs Cork, and another estimated 20 million people watching on tv worldwide. Even to this day many people comment on this performance. He has appeared on all major television shows including Gay Byrne's Late Late Show, and also on St. Patrick's Day 1994 he sang live to 60 million people on network tv all over the USA. All of this has made him the recipient of many awards and accolades. Apart from having huge success all over the world, and being a popular box-office attraction here in Ireland, England and Scotland, he still remains a down-to earth man, feet still firmly on the ground, finding time to do a lot of charitable and social work in his own community and further afield.

Starting his career in his native Athlone, Brendan joined “Kieran Kelly’s Ceili Band” along with school pal Johnny Dawson, who, to this day is still with Brendan playing drums in the “Brendan Shine Super Band”. He made his name first as an excellent accordionist alongside such stars as Dermot O'Brien, Fintan Stanley and Ritchie Fitzgerald. However, he soon took center stage, picked up the microphone and had a huge string of hits in Ireland. He is still on the road today, going as strong as ever!