Dominic Kirwan

Dominic Kirwan grew up in the town of Omagh, County Tyrone, in the north of Ireland. Omagh was a vibrant market town and as Dominic has said in many interviews throughout his career, “it was a great town to grow up in” The town itself had plenty of opportunities for employment. Dominic’s father, John, worked for a local bakery in the town “The Model Bakery” for some 33 years having his own bread delivery service both in the town and in the rural areas. This was very much a part of Dominic’s early days spent with his father and something he remembers fondly to this day. His father sadly passed away at the age of 51 in 1978, when Dominic was 17.

Dominic’s mother Elizabeth (Lila) stayed at home to bring up her family of six, four girls and two boys of which Dominic was second in line after his older sister Mary, followed by Catherine, Theresa, Rosaleen and youngest of the family, John, his only brother. Dominic’s father and mother were married on the 4th of August 1958. Dominic was born on the 5th of June 1960.His mother Elizabeth was very much a big influence in Dominic’s early music career, Elizabeth, sadly passed away on the 29th September 2007, aged 82.

From an early age Dominic, unknown to himself then, was destined for stage. At the tender age of six he was sent to the local Irish dancing school, “The Seamus Kerrigan School Of Irish Dancing” were he was to spend the next 14 years as a competitive Irish dancer. Through those years of competition he gained many awards and at one stage was an Ulster minor champion. He states now that “looking back over those wonderful years, I feel I can now say, that it was all a learning curve for the future and what was to come. Stage, performance, competition, engaging with audiences, travelling, all things that have been very much part of the life that I’ve lived since. My Irish dancing teacher, Seamus Kerrigan, I could even say was slightly instrumental in me following a music career as well”

Dominic was educated by the Christian Brothers in Omagh both at primary and secondary education and has commented that it was a Brother Keane who stopped his mother in the main street of Omagh one day and made mention of his singing voice. From then on, he was very much part of school choirs, church choirs, local pantomime’s, community hall concerts etc etc. His love for Gaelic sport saw him very much involved in his early years with the local GAA club St Enda’s, playing football with the club, working at events and also as a member of the clubs folk groups and dancing groups taking part in the GAA’s own national competitions, Scór ( a competition established by the GAA with the aim of promoting Ireland’s traditional pastimes and culture while offering club members the chance to meet up, have fun and represent their club during the winter months while football and hurling had ceased)

Dominic left school at the age of 16 and took up a job as a Car Parts storeman working for the club’s chairman then, Declan O Neill, O Neill Motor Factors in Strabane, also in Co Tyrone. It was in these early years that Dominic was also involved in forming with friends, a local function band “The Melody Boys” Declan was very supportive of his music career and at weekends would allow Dominic and the band to use one of the parts delivery vans to get their musical equipment to and from events within a 50 to 100 mile radius. “ I don’t forget those days and will always be eternally grateful to Declan for his support in those early days” For the next twelve years Dominic worked at his music, juggling between daytime job and music events until eventually he won a local talent competition with one of the pirate radio stations of the day, “Big M”. The prize for winning the competition got him a minor recording deal which led to his first album “The Green Fields Of Ireland” being recorded. The album and tracks from it became very popular on local radio stations in Ireland at the time. Dominic’s manager through these early years Charlie McBrien ( now deceased) called Dominic to say that the record company Ritz Records who then had Daniel O Donnell on their books were interested in signing him. Things progressed and in January of 1989 Dominic was signed to the label. That same year saw Dominic’s first album with the label being released in the autumn “Try A Little Kindness” and his first ever UK tour as the opening act for the Queen of Irish Country Music Philomena Begley. He has since gone on to guest with Charlie Pride, Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rogers, Don Williams and Crystal Gayle.

Dominic the father of four sons and one daughter, Lee, Colm, Barry, Jonathan and Shannon over the past 30 years has without a doubt put his own stamp on his musicial career having recorded numerous CD’s and Dvd’s, bringing his own vibrant shows to theatres not only in his native homeland, Ireland but throughout the UK, Australia and America

Dominic Kirwan has the ability to light up any stage that he commands with his warm charismatic approach, his welcoming Irish vocal tones, his genuine engagement with his audience and fans is truly something to be seen. His show covers many musical genres with an eclectic mix of Originality, Classic Country, Rock n Roll, an Irish ballad or two, bringing to you entertainment at it’s best.

Recently asked about his career to date and his fans, Dominic happily opened up to a warm smile, pondered for a moment and said “ I’m lucky to have done what I’ve done to date, seen what I’ve seen, travelled to many beautiful parts of the world, met the many beautiful people I’ve met and to have had the support from the many wonderful fans I have throughout the world .. Along with family and friends the fans have given me the opportunity to live this life and make my living, for that I will always be eternally grateful”