Harrington rocks as new album rolls...

Music with Eddie Rowley

WHEN Paul Harrington participated in TV3’s reality show The Restaurant, he cooked up a winning series of dishes.

Paul does the same with his music, as he proves on his latest album, Lights of Home.

The Dublin songwriter and singer won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, singing ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids’ with Sligo’s Charlie McGettigan.

That song is still regularly featured on Irish radio and is regarded as one of the most popular Eurovision hits of all time.

Since then, Paul has enjoyed a varied and interesting career in music. In the late ’90s, Paul was the resident artist in Dublin’s late night celebrity haunt Lillie’s Bordello, where he was regularly joined by the stars of music, movies and TV.

Superstars who were entertained by Paul include the Rolling Stones, U2 and Prince.

It was in Lillie’s that Michael Flatley recognised Harrington’s enormous appeal, and signed him up to his spectacular production Celtic Tiger. This led to Paul performing across North America and Europe where he played iconic venues like Madison Square Garden and Wembley Arena.

Paul’s latest album features nine original compositions and two live recordings of his classic hits, ‘What I’d Say’ and ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids’.

He also acknowledges the talent of his late brother Derek, who lived in Canada and won a Juno Award in 1993 for ‘Traditional Roots Album of the Year’.

Two of Derek’s co-written songs, ‘The Storm’ and ‘Love Never Fades’, are featured on the album.

Paul’s poignant and deeply touching personal song, ‘Song for Siobhan’, is a tribute to his late sister, Siobhan. The siblings had a special bond and shortly after she died, Paul collaborated with Charlie McGettigan to write the emotive song.

As Paul says, this is an album that comes from the heart and the soul.