Sean Dunphy (30 November 1937 – 17 May 2011) was anIrish singer who represented Ireland at the1967 Eurovision Song Contest, achieving second place with "If I Could Choose". He was also the first Irish singer to record inNashville.[1]
Born inWhitehall, Dublin, Dunphy first became famous in his home country as lead singer with The Hoedowners, ashowband led by trumpeterEarl Gill.[2] Between 1966 and 1973, fourteensingles 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 aquadruple 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 atDublin'sNational Concert Hall.[4] His last public engagement was at a charity event twenty-four hours before his death.[5]
On May 17, 2011, Dunphy died at his home inBaldoyle,County Dublin and is buried at Greenogue cemetery inAshbourne, 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]
| Year | Single | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| IRE | ||
| 1966 | "Wonderful World of My Dreams" | 3 |
| "Showball Crazy" | 2 | |
| 1967 | "4033" | 17 |
| "If I Could Choose" | 2 | |
| "Talking Love" | 13 | |
| 1968 | "Two Loves" | 2 |
| "Christmas Polka" | 2 | |
| 1969 | "Lonely Woods of Upton" | 1 |
| "When the Fields Were White with Daisies" | 1 | |
| 1970 | "The Old Fenian Gun" | 5 |
| "The Old Refrain" | 19 | |
| 1972 | "There's an Island in the Sun" | 10 |
| "Michael Collins" | 12 | |
| 1973 | "Pal of My Cradle Days" | 3 |
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country | CAN AC | IRE | ||
| 1972 | "Fields of Green" | — | 3[7] | — |
| "And the Old House Died" | 47[8] | — | — | |
| "The Great White Horse" | 23[9] | — | — | |
| 1977 | "Santa Claus Is Coming Tonight" | — | — | 14 |
| 1979 | "Rosie" | — | — | 30 |
| Preceded by | Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1967 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
