Sean Dunphy (30 November 1937 – 17 May 2011) was an Irish singer who represented Ireland at the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest, achieving second place with "If I Could Choose". He was also the first Irish singer to record in Nashville.^[1]

Career

Born in Whitehall, Dublin, Dunphy first became famous in his home country as lead singer with The Hoedowners, a showband led by trumpeter Earl Gill.^[2] Between 1966 and 1973, fourteen singles by Sean Dunphy and The Hoedowners entered the Irish Charts including, in 1969, two number ones: "Lonely Woods of Upton" and "When The Fields Were White With Daisies". In the late 1970s, Dunphy went on to have two further hits as a solo artist.

Despite undergoing a quadruple heart bypass operation in 2007, Sean Dunphy continued to give live performances.^[3] In March 2009, he sang many of his greatest hits in a one-off concert at Dublin's National Concert Hall.^[4] His last public engagement was at a charity event twenty-four hours before his death.^[5]

Dunphy died at his home in Baldoyle, County Dublin and is buried at Greenogue cemetery in Ashbourne, County Meath.^[6]

Sean Dunphy and his wife Lily had four children. His son Brian is a member of the Irish band, The High Kings.^[5]

Discography

Sean Dunphy and the Hoedowners

Sean Dunphy solo