List of The Voice of Ireland finalists (series 1)

The first series of the talent show, in Ireland, The Voice of Ireland which began broadcasting on 8 January 2012. The coaches are Bressie, Kian Egan of Westlife, Sharon Corr of the Irish pop-rock band The Corrs and Brian Kennedy.

The winner of the series was Pat Byrne of Team Bressie. Other contestants to feature during the series included former OTT member Alan Fitzsimons and former Fair City actor Ryan O'Shaughnessy.

Team Brian

Alan Fitzsimons

Alan Fitzsimons is from Swords, Dublin. He was previously a member of the boyband OTT.^[1] Brian Kennedy and Bressie turned around after he sang "True Colors" at his blind audition. Fitzsimons chose to join Team Brian. He was against Lata McCarthy in the Battle Rounds where they both sang "Everybody Hurts". Brian chose to send Fitzsimons through to the live shows. He was safe in week 1 of the Live Shows after he sang "Purple Rain". In week three he sang "The Edge of Glory". He was in the bottom two with Claire O'Loughlin. Brian chose to save him, thus eliminating O'Loughlin. He was in the bottom two again week five with Sinead Fox. Brian once again chose to save him, thus eliminating Fox. For the quarter final he sang "If You're Not the One" and was in the bottom two again with Brendan Keeley, Brian chose to save Fitzsimons for a third time. Fitzsimons sang "To Where You Are" for the semi-final. Brian awarded Fitzsimons 55 points and Richie Hayes a lesser 45 points. However, Fitzsimons was ultimately eliminated when the public vote was combined with the coaches' scores.

Richie Hayes

Richie Hayes (Irish: Risteárd Ó hAodha) is from Waterford. He is tiny and is known as "the little man with the big voice".^[2] He has been in showbusiness since the age of four and has appeared in numerous theatrical productions for which he has been nominated and has won awards. He has been in more than 1000 performances at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, work alongside such household names as Mick Lally, Frank Kelly, Ronnie Drew, Michael Graham and Samantha Mumba.^[3] Hayes sang "I Wish" for the blind auditions and defaulted to Brian Kennedy's team. For the battle rounds, Brian put him against Conor Ryan. They both sang "Crazy Love". Brian decided to send Hayes through to the live shows. His wife, Erica, was pregnant throughout the series and was due to give birth around the final.^[4] Hayes gained Runner-up to Pat Byrne.

Brendan Keeley

Brendan Keeley is from Tullamore, County Offaly. He plays guitar, piano, flute, panpipes, banjo and mandolin. He had chart success with the single "I'll Always be Lonely" in 1995.^[5] He was eliminated in the quarter-finals.

Sinéad Fox

Sinéad Fox is from Meath. Her secondary school teacher told her she was a soprano. She suffers from stage fright.^[6]

Claire O'Loughlin

Claire O'Loughlin is from Dublin. She is married with two children. She is one of the lead singers with church/wedding vocal group Blush, which also features her cousin Olivia Luc (who appeared in the Blind Auditions).^[7]

Ryan O'Shaughnessy

Ryan O'Shaughnessy (Irish: Rían Ó Seachnasaigh) is a student and former soap opera actor from Dublin. He played little Mark Halpin in Fair City for nine years before being replaced by Cal Kenealy.^[8] O'Shaughnessy left Fair City to be in a failed boyband called Mission 4. He can also play guitar.^[9] O'Shaughnessy sparked controversy during the show by auditioning for the sixth series of Britain's Got Talent after progressing to the live shows in The Voice.^[10] He was eliminated after the first week of live shows.^[11]

Team Kian

Kian

Sharon Gaynor

Sharon Gaynor is a mother from Dublin. Her husband Eric Campbell also participated in the Blind Auditions stage of the series. She plays guitar and is classically trained in piano. She participated in The Podge and Rodge Show's "ShamRock" competition, winning with her band AC/DShe and being invited back to perform on the season finale.^[12]

Jim Devine

Jim Devine is from Northern Ireland. This immediately put him at a disadvantage to the other contestants as, ahead of the final, people in Northern Ireland could not download his single, the tally of which contributed to his vote. Coach Kian fumed about the unfairness of this and had "huge rows" about it but to no avail.^[13] jim Devine is now an upcoming country star, He has three chart single which were very successful and in the future is going to release an album,his debut song was Leeanne loves to dance.

Liam Geddes

Liam Geddes is a full-time busker and musician from Ballina, County Mayo. He plays piano, guitar, cajón and mandolin, and writes his own songs. He reached the final six of Eurosong 2008.^[14]

Elliot Canavan Doyle

Elliot Canavan Doyle is an aspiring alternative/folk musician from Co. Meath. He plays guitar and banjo, writes his own songs and busks and performs around Dublin. He has recently relocated to London to pursue a career in music^[15]

Graham Dowling

Graham Dowling is a student from Mullingar, County Westmeath. He plays guitar and writes his own songs. He is lead singer in the band Icon On Fire, which also features Blind Auditionee Brian Masterson as the drummer.^[16]

Team Sharon

Sharon

Vanessa Whelan

Vanessa Whelan is a research and development analyst from Tramore, County Waterford. She has three children.^[17]

Kim Hayden

Kim Hayden is a part-time retail sales assistant from Newcastle, County Wicklow. Her grandfather was a professional singer and she can play guitar and write her own songs.^[18]

Hayden released her debut EP Better on 14 February 2014.

Kevin Keeley

Kevin Keeley is a student from Tallaght. He can play guitar and write his own songs. His father is in an Irish ballad band. He has acting experience, having played leading roles on stage in the Olympia Theatre since the age of twelve and having appeared as an extra and had small roles in Badly Drawn Roy for the BBC and the short film Summer Valley Road.^[19]

Nollaig O'Connor

Nollaig O'Connor (Irish: Nollaig Ó Conchobhair) is a linguistics and English student from Buttevant, County Cork. She is classically trained in piano and violin. Although not trained as a singer, she grew up listening to many different genres and developed her own technique which she describes as "suitably flawed". She is currently attending University College Cork to finish her degree and intends to pursue music as a career thereafter.^[20]

Kellie Blaise

Kellie Blaise is a singer, busker, actress and Maitre'D at a restaurant in London's Notting Hill where she regularly rubs shoulders with celebrity diners. She has performed in the National Concert Hall Dublin and at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. She made an album in Los Angeles with renowned music producers but the album did not do as well as she had hoped.^[21]

Fauve Chapman

Fauve Chapman is a make-up artist, receptionist and student from Old Portmarnock, Dublin. She plays rhythm guitar and writes her own songs. She finished sixth in the sixth series of You're a Star.^[22] Her father is Charlie Chapman, member of the Miami Showband that were popular around Ireland in the 60s and 70s.

Team Bressie

Bressie

Pat Byrne

Pat Byrne (Irish: Pádraig Ó Broin) is a part-time music teacher from Borris, County Carlow.^[23] He sang "The River" at the blind auditions and all four coaches turned around. Byrne decided to join Team Bressie. Byrne was against Dara Molloy for the battle; they sang "If It Makes You Happy". Bressie decided to send Byrne through to the live shows. For the first live show, Byrne sang "You Do Something to Me" and was saved by the public vote. In week three, he sang "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" and was safe. For the fifth live show Byrne sang "The Day We Caught the Train" and was sent through to the quarter final by the public vote.^[24] Before the final his version of "What a Wonderful World" topped the iTunes chart.^[25] Louis Walsh said he could crack America.^[26] Byrne was crowned the winner of the first series.

Conor Quinn

Conor Quinn (Irish: Conchobhar Ó Cuinn) is from Westmeath. He sang "9 Crimes" for his blind audition and defaulted to Bressie's team. Quinn was against Nikita Rowe in the battles. They both sang "How to Save a Life". Bressie sent Quinn through to the live shows. For the first live show Quinn sang "Feeling Good" and was saved by the public vote. Quinn sang "Lonely Boy" for the third live show and was safe. For the fifth live show Quinn sang "Kids" and was again saved by the public vote.^[27]

Quinn released his debut EP Golden Kids on 20 August 2013.

Kiera Byrne

Kiera Byrne (Irish: Ciara Ó Broin) is from Gorey, Wexford. She sang "Ride On" for her blind audition and defaulted to Bressie's team. Byrne was paired with Carolann Haskins for her Battle. Bressie sent Byrne through to the live shows and sent Haskins home. For the first live show Byrne sang "Titanium" and was saved by the public vote. In week three, Byrne sang "Stay" and was in the bottom two against Jessica Pritzel. Bressie decided to save Byrne. For the fifth live show Byrne sang "Just a Girl" and ended up in the bottom two again with Gari Deegan. Bressie choose to save Byrne.^[28]

Gari Deegan

Gari Deegan is from Bunratty, Clare. He sang "Forget You" at the blind audition. Brian, Sharon and Bressie all pressed their buttons. Deegan decided to join Bressie's team. Deegan went up against Dervla Magennis in the battle. They both sang "Don't Upset the Rhythm". Bressie sent Deegan through to the live shows. Deegan sang "The Tracks of My Tears" in the first live show and was saved by the public vote. Deegan sang "Next to Me" in week three of the competition and was again safe. In week five, after performing "Lately", Deegan was in the bottom two with Kiera Byrne. Bressie decided to send Deegan home.^[29]

Jessica Pritzel

Jessica Pritzel is from Stillorgan, Dublin. She sang "Billie Jean" at her blind audition. Both Bressie and Sharon turned their chairs around for her. Pritzel elected to join Bressie's team. Pritzel went against Kate Gilmore for the battle rounds, where they both sang "My Immortal". Bressie decided to send Pritzel through to the live shows. In week one, Pritzel sang "Something" by The Beatles and was in the bottom two with Gavin Kenny. Bressie decided to save Pritzel. For the third live show Pritzel sang "Walking on Broken Glass" and was in the bottom two for the second time, with Kiera Byrne on this occasion. Bressie decided to eliminate Pritzel from the competition.^[30]

Gavin Kenny

Gavin Kenny is from Naas, Kildare. He sang "Hurt" at the blind audition. Bressie was the only coach to press his button resulting in Kenny defaulting to Team Bressie. Rory Quinn was Kenny's opponent for the battles where they both performed "Everlasting Love". Bressie sent Kenny through to the live show. In week one, Kenny sang "Smooth" and was in the bottom two with Jessica Pritzel. Bressie decided to send Kenny home.^[31]

References