Philomena Begley

Philomena Begley

Begley in 2005.
Background information
Born 20 October 1950 (1950-10-20) (age 61)
Pomeroy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Genres Country
Occupations Singer
Years active 1968 - present
Labels Prism Records

Philomena Begley (born October 20, 1950) is an Irish country music singer.

Contents

Background

Philomena Begley was born and grew up in Pomeroy Co. Tyrone and worked in a shirt factory in Cookstown before her break into music.

Career

Her first venture as a singer was with the popular Old Cross Céilí Band, whom she sang with as a dare, but stayed with the group. The group soon became known as the Old Cross Bandshow and released three records in Ireland in 1968 and 1969, but none made an impression in the charts. In September, 1970 the band changed its name to The Country Flavour. Begley's first record following this became her first chart hit when "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" reached Number 7 in the Irish Charts.[1] In 1974 she formed the Ramblin' Men, while the Country Flavour continued to tour with several other lead singers (including Eileen King and Dan O'Hara) during the 1970s.

Begley regularly toured with Ray Lynam from 1975 and they recorded many duets together. Probably their most popular being "My Elusive Dreams" which would go on to be mentioned in The Pogues' song, "A Pair of Brown Eyes".

In 1975, Begley had a hit with her version of Billie Jo Spears' hit song "Blanket on the Ground" which took her to number five in the Irish Charts. Spears also released the song in the United Kingdom and in Ireland at the same time, however in Ireland it was Begley's version that received the highest sales, as Spears' version only went to number 11.[2] By 1977 she was undertaking a major tour of the United States and in 1978 she was invited to sing at the Grand Ole Opry by Porter Wagoner. Since then she has returned annually to Nashville, been a guest of honour at the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York and has sung at both the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall.

Recognition

One of Begley's biggest fans is Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell, and he once quoted "When Philomena sings a song you believe her…..you feel that she’s experienced every emotion she expresses.[3]

Personal life

Philomena Begley is married to Tom Quinn and they have three children Mary, Aiden and Carol. They reside in their hometown of Pomeroy, County Tyrone. Her son Aiden Quinn has established a singing career for himself also.

Partial discography

Albums

Currently Available Albums

References