Dawn Martin (born 1976 in Dundalk) is an Irish singer who represented Ireland in the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest.
Dawn Martin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976 Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland |
| Genres | Easy listening |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, hairdresser |
Career and Eurovision edit
Dawn Martin left school at the age of 14 and began working as a hairdresser. Being the eldest of eight children, she helped her parents to raise the family. In 1996 Martin had been asked to sing at a friend's wedding and was persuaded by the band to enter a local talent contest. Although working full-time as a hairdresser, Martin continued singing and became a member of a local cabaret band called Us, who performed at weddings and local pubs.[1] In 1997 Martin appeared on The George Jones Show on BBC Radio Ulster and was heard by Gerry Morgan, who invited Martin to perform his song "Is Always Over Now?".[2]
After winning the Irish National heats, she won the right to represent Ireland with "Is Always Over Now?".[3] However this result gained some controversy from Louis Walsh, whose act The Carter Twins were beaten, when he labelled the singer "an amateur".[1] The Carter Twins song had been composed by Ronan Keating and was favourite to win.[4] There was further minor controversy when her two backing singers were axed by RTÉ before the final. These were friends of Martin's, but RTÉ decided that they needed more experienced singers, former winner Paul Harrington being chosen as one of them.[5] In the lead up to the contest, Martin was ranked as 10 to 1 by bookmakers, but had been more favourably viewed by journalists, who predicted that singing in English would be an advantage with this being the first year that the contest was to include televotes.[6] On the night of the Contest, Martin performed 13th and received 64 points, finishing in ninth place.[7] The single reached No.24 in the Irish singles chart.[8]
In 2011 Dawn appeared at Eurobash at Panti Bar in Dublin singing "Is Always Over Now?".[9]
References edit
- ^ a b "The Free Library :"Twist of fate that fulfilled a dream "". Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "The Free Library : "Hairdresser Dawn snips Eurovision attackers"". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "Irish Independent - "Hairdresser wins in style"". Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ Highbeam - "Favourite fail in Eurovision bid"
- ^ "The Mirror: "Dawn tells of heartbreak", 28 April 1998". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "Irish Independent: "13th place could prove lucky for frontrunner Dawn "". Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2022 news by esctoday - Turin Italy". Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- ^ "All Kinds of Everything - Eurovision in the Irish Charts". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2022 news by esctoday - Turin Italy". Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.