From a Tesco check-out to the X Factor stage ... Mary Byrne has lived every undiscovered singer's dream. With a voice of pure gold, Mary Byrne took X Factor by storm. Millions tuned in each week to propel this incredible, brave and hugely-talented singer to a life of stardom. And as the lights went down on X Factor Mary Byrne's dream just kept getting better: she recorded a number one hit album; sang for the Queen of England; performed with American legend Neil Diamond in front of a 40,000 audience; and joined the cast of Grease the Musical as 'Teen Angel'. In This Is My Life, Mary relives every moment of her twelve amazing months and takes the reader behind the scenes of X Factor to meet the judges and contestants and witness the real ups-and-downs of the boot camps and the live shows. Delving into her past, she recounts, in her frank and honest fashion, stories of colourful relationships, broken hearts, life on a kibbutz, world travels and heart-stopping moments. The inspiring, funny, heart-warming and hugely-entertaining story of a woman who found fame against the odds.
For the first time a book reveals the true Westlife. When Eddie Rowley set off on tour with Bryan, Nicky, Shane, Kian and Mark, no one knew what lay ahead. Behind them were seven number one singles and a series of sell out UK shows. Before them lay the world. What began as a gruelling rehersal period in a Dublin studio ended as a multimillion proud global extravanza. What began as a laugh with five mates ended as an emotional rollercoaster though fame, danger and romance.
Read the story of Joe through his own interviews and the memories and anecdotes of his family, including his brother Ben who was by his side in showbusiness for over forty years; his band members, including his nephews Adrian and Ray; his showbiz pals, Larry Gogan, Finbar Furey, Brendan Bowyer and Paddy Cole; his fans, friends (including Michael O'Leary of Ryanair) and acquaintances from all walks of life. Jam-packed with a treasure trove of never-before-told stories that vividly bring to life the essence of Joe Dolan: the showbiz legend, the family man, the friend, the joker and the devil-may-care character who never forgot his roots or lost touch with his people despite enjoying fame and wealth beyond his dreams.
Daniel O'Donnell has achieved superstardom on the international music scene. His concert tours sell out six months in advance. He has achieved well over a million album sales to date, as well as over a quarter of a million videos. He is the only performer ever to have had 6 records in the Britishcharts at the same time. Without doubt the star with the highest media profile in Ireland, Daniel O'Donnell appears regularly on the covers of magazines like the RTE Guide, as well as featuring on radio and TV. Daniel O'Donnell fans are the most loyal anywhere and have an insatiable appetite for information on their star. Although much has been written about him, FOLLOW YOUR DREAM is his story, the Untold Story, written by Daniel with his fans in mind. It unlocks the door to his private world, taking the reader back to Daniel's childhood years, through the difficult early days on the road and his life as a superstar. The book reveals the man you never knew before, as he talks about success, love and the driving ambition that almost wrecked his life.
The stars. The legends. The passion. From Big Tom, Philomena and Daniel to Nathan, Lisa, Mike and many more, the leading lights of Irish country in their own words. Discover what inspired their drive for stardom and a life on the road. Go behind the curtain with the record producer, the videographer and the tour manager, and learn about the reality of life as a touring musician. A treasure trove of exclusive interviews and photographs.
From humble beginnings in County Donegal in Ireland to worldwide recording success, Daniel O'Donnell recounts the incredible story of his life, charting the ups and downs with remarkable honesty. Through wonderful anecdotes, Daniel recalls his early years and the moment he set his heart on becoming a singer, and gives a personal acount of his speading popularity and subsequent perfomances all over the world. With distinctive charm and modesty, he takes us behind the scenes of his phenomenal professional success, providing unique access to the man behind the hits and headlines. A bestseller when it was first published, Daniel O'Donnell: My Story has been fully revised and updated with a wealth of brand new material. for the first time Danel gives an intimate account of his romance and high-profile wedding to Majella McLennan as well as his deeply personal observations on worldwide success and his recent breathrough to stardom in the USA.
Marie Duffy is one of the best choreographers in the world. She has been my dance master and right-hand person since 1996. She is like my twin sister. I will love her forever." - Michael Flatley Marie Duffy is the undisputed queen of Irish dancing: she has trained more world champions than any other teacher, and has been Michael Flatley's right-hand woman for twenty years. She works tirelessly to promote Irish dance and culture internationally. In this honest and entertaining book, Marie gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of professional Irish dance, and draws back the curtain on her own fascinating and inspiring life. Marie first gained recognition dancing on entertainment shows in the 1960s, and went on to become a hugely successful Irish dancing teacher. Watching the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest in her living room, Marie was filled with pride as she'd taught many of the dancers in the famous Riverdance interval act. Two years later, Marie received a phone call that transformed her life when Michael Flatley offered her a job on a new show he had devised. Lord of the Dance would go on to become a worldwide hit, beginning years of fruitful collaboration between Marie and Flatley. Sadly however, Marie's professional highs have been accompanied by many personal lows, including the loss of her mother (who didn't live to see her daughter's success) and first husband Ian, and being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. Marie had a mastectomy, but in the showbiz tradition of 'the show must go on' she went back to her work rehearsing the dance troupe.
In Ireland, Daniel O'Donnell is more than just a singing star: he has reached the status of 'national treasure'. It has been a long journey for the boy from Kincasslagh, County Donegal, and in Living the Dream he tells his story with his customary sense of humour and down-to-earth charm. Much has happened in Daniel O'Donnell's life since his first autobiography, Follow Your Dream, and in this new book he reflects on the range of experiences and emotions that accompanied his wife Majella's battle with cancer; the death of his beloved mother, Julia; his part in the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing TV show; and his B&B Road Trip adventures with Majella. And he delves into the relentless touring and recording that took him to the brink of burnout and forced him to reassess his priorities. Daniel O'Donnell is an international phenomenon - 'a real star'. His fans will love this latest instalment of his extraordinary life story.
Ronan, Stephen, Shane, Keith and Mikey make up Boyzone who have had the most successful debut of any Irish band, with five consecutive Top 5 entries. This book captures them on tour, in the studio and relaxing.
Julia O'Donnell grew up on a remote island off the northwest coast of Ireland, going barefoot as a child during the poverty-stricken 1920s. During her teenage years she picked potatoes and travelled to Scottish ports to gut fish. She married her beloved husband Francie, but his work was physically demanding and she found herself widowed and penniless with five children while still in her forties. She survived by knitting sweaters which were sold in America by relatives, until in an amazing twist of fate, her daughter Margaret and son Daniel became chart-topping singers and she found herself mingling with celebrities and royalty.
Ronan Keating has lived an extraordinary life so far, from childhood on a housing estate in North Dublin to recording chart-topping singles in the grounds of his own country house. Seven years after Boyzone took their first steps to fame, he tells of his move to a new kind of solo success.
The legacy of the boy band continues with these young pretenders from Ireland. Under the wing of Boyzone's Ronan Keating, Westlife never looked set to be anything less than the next teen phenomenon. Their debut single "Swear It Again" went straight into the UK charts at Number 1 in April 1999 and with an increasing legion of fans, cute boy band looks, and classic pop tunes, Westlife are emulating the success of their mentor.
When Shane, Kian, Mark, Nicky and Bryan celebrated the beginning of 2001 in true Irish style, they had no idea of the adventures that lay ahead. Eddie Rowley, co-author of Ronan Keating's bestselling autobiography Life is A Rollercoaster, followed Westlife on their biggest ever world tour. From Dublin where they attempted their first dance routine ('look lads, no stools') via Wembley to the Far East, it was a mad whirl of hotels, screaming girls, late night parties and McDonald's hamburgers. It was their most expensive tour ever, and certainly the most exhausting! Along the way we witness the ups and downs of the boys' lives in the sometimes dangerous, sometimes lonely goldfish-bowl world of pop. And through it all we get to see in unprecedented detail the true personalities that make up the phenomenon that is Westlife. A rip-roaring read and the most penetrating look yet at the UK's most successful boy band- ever.
Read the story of Joe through his own interviews and the memories and anecdotes of his family, including his brother Ben who was by his side in showbusiness for over forty years; his band members, including his nephews Adrian and Ray; his showbiz pals, Larry Gogan, Finbar Furey, Brendan Bowyer and Paddy Cole; his fans, friends (including Michael O'Leary of Ryanair) and acquaintances from all walks of life. Jam-packed with a treasure trove of never-before-told stories that vividly bring to life the essence of Joe Dolan: the showbiz legend, the family man, the friend, the joker and the devil-may-care character who never forgot his roots or lost touch with his people despite enjoying fame and wealth beyond his dreams.
As Take That disintegrated, Boyzone were waiting in the wings to take the mantle of biggest boy band in the world. This is the story of their success and of what it's been like living in a dream.
Irish singing star Daniel O'Donnell's mother, Julia, grew up on a remote island off the northwest coast of Ireland, going barefoot and doing hard labour as as child during the poverty-stricken 1920s. The hard work continued through her teenage years as she picked potatoes in the fields and travelled to Scotland to gut fish in the ports. After she married, Julia's beloved husband, Francie, was forced to work away from home for months on end. Physically demanding, the work eventually took its toll and Julia found herself widowed and penniless with five children while still in her forties. In this classic and inspiring story of triumph over adversity, Julia tells how she battled through this dark period by knitting sweaters into the early hours of the morning to support her family. Then, in an amazing twist of fate, this hard-working woman and dedicated mother watched from the wings as her offspring flourished. Her daughter Margaret and son Daniel went on to achieve fame and fortune as chart-topping singers. Poignant, warm and laced with great humour, The Mother's Story is a tale of maternal love, hardship and sacrifice, and a fascinating insight into this remarkable Irish family's life. 'I was six when my father died so my mother has been everything to me. Wherever I go I tell the world about my wonderful mother. I'm a singer today because of my mother's encouragement. She has been the biggest influence in my life.' Daniel O'Donnell
Ronan Keating has lived an extraordinary life so far, from childhood on a housing estate in North Dublin to recording chart-topping singles in the grounds of his own country house. Seven years after Boyzone took their first steps to fame, he tells of his move to a new kind of solo success.
Recent decades have seen sub-Saharan Africa decline in both economic and human terms. The rich North has responded with a barrage of well-publicized initiatives, from pop concerts to international commitments on debt relief, aid, trade and good governance. Among the complex of factors necessary to sustain economic and human development, education receives little media coverage, although it is crucial. However, education must be effective. This book argues that in 'Anglophone' Africa, education is not effective because of the use of English, rather than children's first languages, both as the medium of instruction, and also as the language in which children are first taught to read. Research is presented from Malawi and Zambia, countries with contrasting language policies, using evidence from tests in English and African languages, small-group discussions and classroom observation. The findings show that English-medium policies in Africa do not give students any advantage in English over first-language policies, while the use of English discriminates against girls and rural children. The book concludes that much education in Africa is a barrier rather than a bridge to learning because of the prevailing language ideology, which has resulted in massive over-estimation of the value of English. While appropriate language policies alone will not solve education and development difficulties in Africa, they do have a positive contribution to make. The evidence presented here suggests they are failing to make that contribution.
He was in the best sense a fighter for equal rights, a rebel, a free-thinker, a restless spirit, a reformer who saw far into the future and far into the past.' Dr Bryan Keon-Cohen, plaintiffs' barrister in the Mabo litigation Here, largely in his own words, is the incredible story of Edward Koiki Mabo, from his childhood on the Island of Mer through to his struggle within the union cause and the black rights movement. Tragically, Mabo died just months before the historic High Court native-title decision that destroyed forever the concept of terra nullius. Originally published by UQP in 1996, this new edition has been updated by Mabo's long-time friend historian Noel Loos. New photographs and a preface by esteemed film director Rachel Perkins give this book the new life it deserves.
Answering the eternal question... WHAT TO WATCH NEXT? Looking for a box set to get your adrenaline racing or to escape to a different era? In need of a good laugh to lift your spirits? Hunting for a TV show that the whole family can watch together? If you're feeling indecisive about your next binge-watching session, we've done the hard work for you. Featuring 1,000 carefully curated reviews written by a panel of TV connoisseurs, What To Watch When offers up the best show suggestions for every mood and moment.
Be a part of the radical transformation to honor and respect Beautiful Brilliant Black Girls! This book is a collective call to action for educational justice and fairness for all Black Girls – Beautiful, Brilliant. This book engages willing and knowledgeable educators to disrupt and transform their learning spaces by presenting: Detailed chapters rooted in scholarship, lived experiences, and practice Activities, recommendations, shorter personal narratives, and poetry honoring Black Girls Resources centering Black female protagonists Companion videos illustrating first-hand experiences of Black Girls and women Tools in authentically connecting with Black Girls so they can do more than survive – they can thrive.
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