Sinéad Sheppard

Sinéad Sheppard
Born Midleton Street, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland
Residence Ireland
Nationality Irish
Education Coláiste an Phiarsaigh
Occupation Singer, dancer, television talent judge
Known for Membership of Six, Town Councillor

Sinéad Sheppard is an Irish politician and dancing tutor, and former member of a prominent but short-lived pop group. She rose to fame in the 2001–02 RTÉ One television series Popstars, in which she was selected as a member of the pop group Six. After the band's swift demise, Sheppard formed her own dance school and features as an advisor to judge John Creedon in the 2009 talent show The All Ireland Talent Show. Since 2009 she has served as a member of local councils in Cork, representing Fine Gael.

Early life

Sheppard is originally from Midleton Street in Cobh, County Cork. She is a fluent speaker of the Irish language, having been educated at Coláiste an Phíarsaigh, a gaelscoil in Glanmire, County Cork. Before being discovered by Louis Walsh, she was intending to pursue a career in public relations.[1]

Career

Six membership

Sheppard was nineteen when she was selected as a member of Six. Her first show as a member of Six was at the ChildLine Concert in the Point Theatre, Dublin, where she performed in front of 8000 people. Six released two multi-platinum selling singles, both of which reached #1 in the Irish Singles Chart, and also had a top five album in Ireland.[2] Their first single, "There's a Whole Lot of Loving" is the 3rd fastest-selling single in Irish musical history.[3] Six did an arena tour with Westlife in England, playing a total of sixty-six shows, and two nationwide tours of Ireland.

Other musical aspirations

Sheppard attempted to audition for the first series of the British-based talent show The X Factor in 2004 alongside fellow Six rejects Emma O'Driscoll, Andy Orr, Liam McKenna and the runner-up in the first season of the Irish-based talent show You're a Star, Simon Casey.[4]

Television career

Sheppard featured on The All Ireland Talent Show which began in January 2009.[5] She appeared in the 1 February 2009 episode to assist John Creedon in the selection of his five acts to represent The South in the competition, specialising in dance choreography.[6] These were the experimental guitarist Barry Walsh, the hip hop and freestyle dancer Jack Lynch, the contortionist and contemporary dancer Moneeka Murkegee, Toby Bedell and the pianist Vlada Fitzgerald. They will compete against acts from Dublin, The North, The West and The East in the twelve-week televised competition.

Politics

In the 2009 local elections, Sheppard was elected to Cobh town council for Fine Gael.[7][8] She was elected to Cork County Council for the municipal area of Cobh in the 2014 local elections.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ "Mystery Popstar keeps them guessing". Irish Examiner. 2002-01-15. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  2. ↑ Quigley, Maeve (2002-06-30). "They've Six appeal". BNET. Retrieved 2009-01-25. originally published in the Sunday Mirror
  3. ↑ "Emma O Driscoll". Stage Door Ireland. Accessed 16 November 2008.
  4. ↑ "Star Simon turns down Six request". BNET. 2004-06-13. Retrieved 2009-01-25. originally published in the Sunday Mirror
  5. ↑ "All Ireland Talent Show judges revealed". RTÉ. 2008-11-13. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  6. ↑ "Star of the Day". RTÉ Guide. 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
  7. ↑ http://www.cobh.ie/members.php
  8. ↑ Sweeney, Ken (22 March 2009). "Former Six star joins new group: Fine Gael". Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  9. ↑ "Irish local election results". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  10. ↑ In a major reform in 2014, municipal districts replaced town councils. Councillors elected by district serve as county councillors but may meet also separately to fulfill some of the functions of the abolished town councillors.
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