Geraldine Brannigan facts for kids
Geraldine Brannigan, born in 1954, is an Irish singer. She is also known by her professional name, Géraldine. She became famous for her performance in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975. Representing Luxembourg, she sang the song "Toi" and finished in fifth place.
Her Music Career
Geraldine Brannigan started her music journey with her band. They were part of the lively Irish showband scene. In 1973, her band, Geraldine & the Brannigans, tried out for the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland. Their song was called Fadó Fadó, which means "Long, Long Ago". They placed fourth in that competition.
In 1978, Geraldine represented Ireland again. This time, she performed with a group called Geraldine & Pickles. They sang "Say It With Music" at the Yamaha Music Festival in Tokyo, Japan.
Geraldine also released her own songs. In 1979, she performed her song "Casablanca" on the Benny Hill Show in the UK. Another song, "Back Street Band," was featured on a show called Juke Box Jury. She released an album in 1981 with her band, The GB Band. Her future husband, Phil Coulter, helped write some of the music for this album. In 1982, she toured South Africa with guitarist Tony Cox.
Singing at Eurovision
In 1975, Geraldine was chosen by the TV station RTL to sing for Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest. The contest was held in Stockholm, Sweden, that year. Her song, "Toi", was written by three talented people. They were Irish singer-songwriter Phil Coulter, Scottish producer Bill Martin, and French songwriter Pierre Cour. Phil Coulter also led the orchestra for her song. Geraldine's performance was a success, and she came in fifth place.
Her Family Life
In November 1998, Geraldine Brannigan married her long-time partner, Phil Coulter. It was a small ceremony held in Wicklow, Ireland. Their six children were there to witness the marriage. Their children are Danielle, Dominique, Alexandra, Daragh, Ryan, and Georgina. Phil Coulter first saw Geraldine in a TV advertisement for Guinness in Dublin. He felt he had to meet her. He later said in an interview that it was "love at first sight."
