Derek Ryan
Country Singer
Irish country music star with competition victories in A Song for Carlow and the International Song of Peace. His album The Simple Things garnered him an Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year honor from Ireland's biggest selling newspaper.
He previously performed as part of a boy band called D-Side in 2001. The group had success, achieving a number one in Japan as well as numerous top 10 hits in Ireland, UK, France, Germany and China.
He spent some years studying accounting while also writing his first songs.
His first foray into music was alongside his brother Adrian, performing as the Ryan Brothers. He would attend Fleadh Cheoil, an enormous Irish music fest, on a regular basis with his father.
The single "Hold Onto Your Hat" from The Simple Things album features Sharon Shannon. Shannon has collaborated with Shane MacGowan of The Pogues.