Dominic Kirwan

A wholesome Irish crooner in the mould of Daniel O'Donnell or Chris DeBurgh, Dominic Kirwan was a champion Irish dancer as a child before making his name in his hometown Omagh with his teenage band The Melody Boys. He first found solo fame with the single Alice Is In Wonderland in 1985, before winning a host of talent shows (even appearing on the BBC's Opportunity Knocks) and eventually signing a deal with Ritz Records in 1988. Specialising in lounge room standards and traditional light entertainment, Kirwan also has a penchant for turning country classics such as Rhinestone Cowboy, Hello Mary Lou and The River into smooth pop ballads. With over many studio albums under his belt and a loyal army of followers, Kirwan has become something of an institution in Ireland, packing out shows nationwide and consistently reaching the upper echelons of the charts. His 2009 album My Kinda Country continued his love affair with American music and romantic torch songs.