Brendan Shine

Born in Athlone, County Westmeath, Brendan Shine has developed since the 1960s a repertoire that sits between Irish country, folk and dance music, with the accordion—his first instrument—given a prominent role. He began playing in his father’s country orchestra while still at school and later played with Kieran Kelly’s Ceili Band alongside Johnny Dawson, before establishing himself as a singer in addition to his work as an instrumentalist. His career is rooted in the country and Irish tradition, featuring narrative songs often grounded in everyday life and rural landscapes. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Shine released a string of popular singles in Ireland, including “O’Brien Has No Place to Go” (1971), “Where the Three Counties Meet” (1973), “Abbeyshrule” (1974) and “Do You Want Your Oul Lobby Washed Down” (1979). His extensive discography includes Céili House (1973), This Is Brendan Shine (1974), The Irish Side of Brendan Shine (1980), Nice and Easy (1983), Moonshine (1986), I Wanna Stay with You (1995), Seasons of the Heart (2008) and Where Did You Meet Her (2012). Alongside performing, Brendan Shine also presented several television programmes in Ireland, including Nice and Easy and Shine On.