This is far and away the best song never to have won the Irish National Song Contest. It was streets ahead of the winner of that year (possibly of any year). As far as I remember, she wrote it herself too.
I've refrained for "many's a year" on this one, very proud of my younger sister's performance down in Cork, in the Eurosong Final in '95.
The background to the National Final that year was that RTE, quite simply, admitted or not, could not (or wanted not) to host 'another' Eurovision Final.
Naoimh used to perform under her maiden name, Kavanagh, and there was an intriguing potential for Naoimh Kavanagh to follow a certain Niamh Kavanagh ("In Your Eyes"), representing Ireland.
To compound matters, not long after Eddie Friel's success on the night, came this....
Check out on YouTube Julie Felix - Moonlight
And then check out Eddie Friels Eurosong winner - Dreaming
naoimh is such a lovely woman with such a brilliant powerful voice. I'm from the same town as her and had the pleasure of having her as my music teacher in primary school. If you think this is good, you should see her sing phantom of the opera!!! now that is WOW!! xxxx
Funny what comes up when you type your own name into the YouTube search. Good to see the Penston's are carving their niche into the internet. Miss you guys!
A lot of fans across europe who follow this contest religiously still believe that this song had top 5 potential if it had been selected. The fact that is wasn't chosen is still one of the greatest travesties in eurovision. Lovely to see and hear it again
Wonderful song Naimh! And it was nice to hear you sing again, we met at the Elders show in Arklow in Feb '07, when you sang with Fran, Ian and the boys. I still watch the video I recorded occasionally, 'twas a grand night!
(And no folks, she doesn't have big hair anymore LOL)
Folks, thank you for your lovely comments. I hadn't even thought about this experience for a long time and then it was posted here. So long ago. I haven't sung it for years but thanks to this post and its discovery by a friend of mine in AIMS I was asked to sing it last week at an AIMS get together... it was fun to sing it again. And no...I don't still have the BIG HAIR!!
I well remember how absolutely sick I felt when this superb ballad lost out to that plagiarized nonsense "Dreamin'". RTE knew full well that they had another potential winner on their hands with this so I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was a bit of vote-fixing at work in 1995. "Dreamin'" had won even before the final jury was called in. Well done RTE, you shower of goons.
Iv always felt that because Ireland had won the previous 3 years that this wasnt left win as this was a potential esc winner, theres no comparrison to this and dreaming, this is class a esc winner.
Superb. My favourtie irish Song of 1995 and streets ahead of Dreamin by Eddie Freel. Ireland nearly had to withdraw Eddie and send this song due to an official complaint that Dreamin was plagerism....... now where have I heard that one before in the Eurovision. Complaint was dismissed so unfortunately Naoimh didn't get to sing this wonderful song in the Eurovision finals. A Classic!!
She's my singing teacher! Im in her vocal academy and we one Choir of the year at Feis Ceol. She can teach anybody to sing!
jojoollie1 5 months ago
Her voice is so much better now, u shud hear sum of the high notes she can pull off!!
gohiontach3 1 year ago
Loving the hair Naoimh! But the voice is as good as ever.
JimWWalsh 1 year ago
This is far and away the best song never to have won the Irish National Song Contest. It was streets ahead of the winner of that year (possibly of any year). As far as I remember, she wrote it herself too.
Thanks to senzate81 for putting it up :-)
noige1 1 year ago
OMG! She's my singing teacher in college! So gonna get the class 2 sing this to her when she walks in the door!
Emmz15 2 years ago
I've refrained for "many's a year" on this one, very proud of my younger sister's performance down in Cork, in the Eurosong Final in '95.
The background to the National Final that year was that RTE, quite simply, admitted or not, could not (or wanted not) to host 'another' Eurovision Final.
More comment to follow....
ColmEFC 2 years ago
Naoimh used to perform under her maiden name, Kavanagh, and there was an intriguing potential for Naoimh Kavanagh to follow a certain Niamh Kavanagh ("In Your Eyes"), representing Ireland.
To compound matters, not long after Eddie Friel's success on the night, came this....
Check out on YouTube Julie Felix - Moonlight
And then check out Eddie Friels Eurosong winner - Dreaming
Only in Ireland!!! Pure coincidence, eh?
Naoimh - no substitute for class m'dear! x
ColmEFC 2 years ago
Hi...did Naoimh ever record this song? i would love to have a copy of it. it is one of my all time favourite eurovision songs
luvhart 2 years ago
@ColmEFC if that's true how come they weren't afaird in Ireland to send another winner in 1996 only 2 years after their triple hosting?
SimsMoyal 1 year ago
She was robbed... RTE should send her in 2010
austinwrk 2 years ago 2
Am glad I found this. I saw Naoimh sing this in a late night around the piano session at the AIMS awards only last weekend, and it was wonderful.
She sings even better now imo and plays piano beautifully as well.
Definitely not sporting the big hair anymore though.. ;-)
Robbie
Trulyoriginalfake 2 years ago 2
naoimh is such a lovely woman with such a brilliant powerful voice. I'm from the same town as her and had the pleasure of having her as my music teacher in primary school. If you think this is good, you should see her sing phantom of the opera!!! now that is WOW!! xxxx
angelboi2007 2 years ago 2
This is an amazing song! Does anyone know what became of the girl who sings it?
howieboy22 2 years ago
@howieboy22
she teaches music and singing in martina lynch academy of dance and has her own singing academy now. :)
AnnaHennesy 2 years ago
Funny what comes up when you type your own name into the YouTube search. Good to see the Penston's are carving their niche into the internet. Miss you guys!
mondriaanlied9 3 years ago
A lot of fans across europe who follow this contest religiously still believe that this song had top 5 potential if it had been selected. The fact that is wasn't chosen is still one of the greatest travesties in eurovision. Lovely to see and hear it again
luvhart 3 years ago
Wonderful song Naimh! And it was nice to hear you sing again, we met at the Elders show in Arklow in Feb '07, when you sang with Fran, Ian and the boys. I still watch the video I recorded occasionally, 'twas a grand night!
(And no folks, she doesn't have big hair anymore LOL)
dutcho5 3 years ago
Folks, thank you for your lovely comments. I hadn't even thought about this experience for a long time and then it was posted here. So long ago. I haven't sung it for years but thanks to this post and its discovery by a friend of mine in AIMS I was asked to sing it last week at an AIMS get together... it was fun to sing it again. And no...I don't still have the BIG HAIR!!
mistresspandora 3 years ago
Ask Any Irish Euro fan and they will tell you ..you waz robbed... Such a great song and voice Great to hear your still singing !
austinwrk 2 years ago
I well remember how absolutely sick I felt when this superb ballad lost out to that plagiarized nonsense "Dreamin'". RTE knew full well that they had another potential winner on their hands with this so I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was a bit of vote-fixing at work in 1995. "Dreamin'" had won even before the final jury was called in. Well done RTE, you shower of goons.
StewieGriffin2009 3 years ago 2
simply beautiful
bluesystemfan1 3 years ago
Love this song♥ i think she is the best singer on earth! I love you naoimmh♥Seriously
this girl is beyond words to describe her singing!♥ I love her
She is so beautiful! I love her love her love 'er♥ Best friends always!!♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
twitchtnr 3 years ago
Iv always felt that because Ireland had won the previous 3 years that this wasnt left win as this was a potential esc winner, theres no comparrison to this and dreaming, this is class a esc winner.
iamanabba 4 years ago
Beautiful song. Would have won ESC 95, I'm sure. Better than any of the songs which have won the contest for Ireland, I've always thought.
ant100175 4 years ago
Beautiful • Many thanks
GordonGuggy 4 years ago
Superb. My favourtie irish Song of 1995 and streets ahead of Dreamin by Eddie Freel. Ireland nearly had to withdraw Eddie and send this song due to an official complaint that Dreamin was plagerism....... now where have I heard that one before in the Eurovision. Complaint was dismissed so unfortunately Naoimh didn't get to sing this wonderful song in the Eurovision finals. A Classic!!
jakempson 4 years ago
Another gem. And yes, it would have given Nocturne a good run for its money. Please keep posting these Eurovision classics!
Dermotdublin 4 years ago