Dominic Kirwan

A well-known and well-traveled performer in the Irish country music scene, Dominic Kirwan got his first bit of success as a performer when he won an Irish Dancing Champion at a young age. Born June 5, 1960, in Omagh, County Tyrone, Dominic Thomas Kirwan carried his love of performance into the creation of his first band, The Melody Boys, in 1979. The Melody Boys would gain a local following with their well received live shows, but it was solo success that Kirwan was after, and in 1985 he went off on his own and released a single and album. The single, "Alice In Wonderland," was a moderate hit, and Kirwan quickly followed it up with a full length album. In 1989, Kirwan scored a record deal with Ritz Records, and would go on to share stages with some of country music's leading artists, such as Kenny Rogers, Charley Pride, and Tammy Wynette. Over the years Kirwan would release more albums, a handful of DVD's, but — and most importantly — would continue to be a popular live act in his home country.