Ann Breen

Born in Downpatrick, Co. Down, Northern Ireland, Breen began performing while still at school by joining a pop band. By the age of sixteen she was already fronting Ann And The Country Band. Although she worked the cabaret circuit steadily, she maintained a full-time day job for the next seven years. Her revival of ‘Pal Of My Cradle Days’ became a major hit across Ireland and registered as a turntable favourite in the UK, where it grazed the lower chart positions. She followed this with further ‘mother’ songs such as ‘What A Friend We Have In Mother’, ‘Medals For Mother’ and ‘A Mother’s Love Is A Blessing’, later balancing the theme with the father-oriented ‘In Your Heart’. Her albums blend Irish songs, American country songs, old-time songs and middle-of-the-road hits. One departure from this style, the disco single ‘Domino’, proved ill-advised. Breen’s soft Irish brogue and likeable personality have made her a consistent draw on the concert circuit. Of her music, she has stated, ‘Most of the songs that I have recorded are not the real, sloppy wet songs but are sentimental songs that have been around for years and will be around for many more.’ In the mid-00s Breen chose to step away from touring in order to focus on recording.