Bridie Gallagher
Encyclopedia
Bridie Gallagher is an Irish
singer, affectionately known as The Girl from Donegal. She shot to fame in 1956 with her recording of A Mother's Love's A Blessing and achieved international acclaim with her legendary rendition of The Boys From County Armagh. During her career, which spans over six decades, she has appeared in many leading venues across the globe. She also made songs such as The Homes of Donegal
famous.
Bridie's talent was soon spotted and she went to Belfast
which was to become her base, therein she married George Livingstone and had two boys, Jim and Peter. One son, Peter died in a motor accident in 1976 and the other, Jim later went on to tour with Bridie.
Bridie Gallagher holds the record for the largest number of people in attendance in the Albert Hall London, a record that was never equalled as it went on to be come an all seater venue. Bridie become world famous and travelled all over the world, USA, Canada
, Europe
, Australia
and was known as "The Girl from Donegal". Bridie played in many of the world's best known theatre's including London
's Royal Albert Hall
, Sydney Opera House
and Carnegie Hall
in New York
. Bridie sang mainly ballads or as they later became known as Country and Irish. One of her best known songs was "The Boys From The County Armagh".
Bridie Gallagher had her own Radio Show on RTÉ
. As well as many appearances on television RTÉ
, BBC
, UTV
, and coast to coast in the USA.
for most of her life. In 1976 she lost her 21-year-old son in a motorbike accident."She never really got over that (accident)," said her son Jim, "but she just kept going.". Bridie was honoured by the people of Creeslough
on July 10, 2000 with an event to celebrate her career. Members of Bridie's family from Creeslough
and Donegal
attended the event along with her two sisters and their families who travelled from Glasgow
to be there along with an estimated crowd of 2,500 fans. A plaque paying tribute to Bridie was unvieled. The following day Bridie was honoured by Donegal County Council
when the held a Civic Reception for her. "Bridie blazed the trail for many artists who followed after her and I'm sure that many of them looked upon her as a role model as they started their careers in the music world," council chairman Charlie Bennett said at the ceremony.
As of 2009, Bridie is semi-retired, and still resides in Belfast
. She has now finished her auto - biography and is awaiting it to be published.
Source =
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
singer, affectionately known as The Girl from Donegal. She shot to fame in 1956 with her recording of A Mother's Love's A Blessing and achieved international acclaim with her legendary rendition of The Boys From County Armagh. During her career, which spans over six decades, she has appeared in many leading venues across the globe. She also made songs such as The Homes of Donegal
The Homes of Donegal
"The Homes of Donegal" is an Irish ballad written by songwriter Seán McBride in 1955. It has been performed by many singers, most famously by Paul Brady....
famous.
Career
Bridie started her singing in the Creeslough Hall with a local Ceili Band started by Bill Gallagher. The Creeslough Hall was owned by Jim Mc Caffrey and Bridie would make many more visits to the Creeslough Hall in her home town throughout her long and successful career.Bridie's talent was soon spotted and she went to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
which was to become her base, therein she married George Livingstone and had two boys, Jim and Peter. One son, Peter died in a motor accident in 1976 and the other, Jim later went on to tour with Bridie.
Bridie Gallagher holds the record for the largest number of people in attendance in the Albert Hall London, a record that was never equalled as it went on to be come an all seater venue. Bridie become world famous and travelled all over the world, USA, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and was known as "The Girl from Donegal". Bridie played in many of the world's best known theatre's including London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
and Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Bridie sang mainly ballads or as they later became known as Country and Irish. One of her best known songs was "The Boys From The County Armagh".
Bridie Gallagher had her own Radio Show on RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
. As well as many appearances on television RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, UTV
UTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
, and coast to coast in the USA.
Personal life
Gallagher has lived in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
for most of her life. In 1976 she lost her 21-year-old son in a motorbike accident."She never really got over that (accident)," said her son Jim, "but she just kept going.". Bridie was honoured by the people of Creeslough
Creeslough
Creeslough is a village in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. It lies 12 km south of Dunfanaghy on the N56 road, 54 m above sea level and overlooking an arm of Sheephaven Bay...
on July 10, 2000 with an event to celebrate her career. Members of Bridie's family from Creeslough
Creeslough
Creeslough is a village in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. It lies 12 km south of Dunfanaghy on the N56 road, 54 m above sea level and overlooking an arm of Sheephaven Bay...
and Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
attended the event along with her two sisters and their families who travelled from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to be there along with an estimated crowd of 2,500 fans. A plaque paying tribute to Bridie was unvieled. The following day Bridie was honoured by Donegal County Council
Donegal County Council
Donegal County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Donegal in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Mayor...
when the held a Civic Reception for her. "Bridie blazed the trail for many artists who followed after her and I'm sure that many of them looked upon her as a role model as they started their careers in the music world," council chairman Charlie Bennett said at the ceremony.
As of 2009, Bridie is semi-retired, and still resides in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. She has now finished her auto - biography and is awaiting it to be published.
Singles
- A Mother's Love's a Blessing/ I'll Remember You Love, In My Prayers (1956)
- The Boys From the County Armagh/ Kilarney and You (July, 1957)
- The Girl from Donegal / Take this Message to my Mother (1958)
- At the Close of an Irish Day / Two Little Orphans (1958)
- The Hills of Donegal / My Mother's Last Goodbye (1958)
- I'll Forgive But I'll Never Forget / Poor Little Orphan Boy (1958)
- Hillside in Scotland / Johnny Gray (1958)
- The Kylemore Pass / Cutting the Corn in Creeslough (1958)
- Goodbye Johnny / The Faithful Sailor Boy (1958)
- I Found You Out/ It's A Sin To Tell A Lie (December 1958)
- If I Were a Blackbird / The Moon Behind the Hill (1959)
- Moonlight in Mayo / In The Heart of Donegal (1959)
- I Left Ireland and My Mother Because we were Poor / Star of Donegal (1959)
- Noreen Bawn / Moonlight on the River Shannon (1959)
- Hills of Glenswilly / The Old Wishin' Chair (1959)
- Orange Trees Growing in Old County Down / The Crolly Doll (1959)
- I'll Always Be With You/ Stay With Me (May 1959)
- Homes Of Donegal/ Ballyhoe (1960)
- Christmas In Old Dublin Town/ I'll Cry Tomorrow (December 1962)
- A Little Bunch Of Violets/ The Bonny Boy (1966)
- The Wild Colonial Boy/ Poor Orphan Girl (1967)
- Just Like Your Daddy/ No Charge (1976)
Extended Plays
- The Girl From Donegal, No. 3 (1958)
- A1:Hill Of Donegal
- A2: I'll Forgive But I'll Never Forget
- B1: The Boys From County Armagh
- B2: The Poor Orphan Boy
- Bridie Gallagher (1959)
- A: Moonlight On The Shannon River
- B1: I Left Ireland And Mother Because We Were Poor
- B2: The Hills Of Glenswilly
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