Maria Doyle-Cuche facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Doyle-Cuche
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Maria Doyle-Cuche (Paris, 2019).
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Maria McCabe |
| Also known as | Maria Christian Maria Doyle Maria Cuche |
| Born | 6 May 1965 |
| Origin | Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1985, 2016–present |
Maria Doyle-Cuche, born on May 6, 1965, is a talented Irish singer. She became famous for representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985. Later, in 2016, she appeared on The Voice of Ireland. In 2020, she reached the semi-finals of The Voice France. Maria has been mostly blind since she was nine years old. She also wrote a book about her life called "On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur," which means One Can Only Truly See with the Heart.
Contents
Maria Doyle-Cuche: Her Life Story
Early Life and Dreams
Maria was born in 1965 in Dundalk, Ireland. She faced challenges from a young age. When she was nine, she started losing her eyesight because of a genetic condition called Stargardt's disease. Even with this, she always dreamed of becoming a singer.
When she was thirteen, an American lady noticed her amazing singing voice. This kind person helped raise money for Maria to travel to the United States. There, Maria received special training to develop her musical talents.
Singing Career Highlights
At just 19 years old, Maria had a big chance to show her talent. She represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. She performed the song "Wait Until The Weekend Comes" under the name Maria Christian. Her performance earned 91 points, placing her 6th in the competition. The song also became popular in Ireland, reaching number 15 on the Irish music charts. Her next song, "Star," also did well, reaching number 30 in December 1985.
Family Life and Return to Music
In the early 1990s, Maria married Emmanuel Cuche, a Frenchman. They settled in France and started a family. They have seven children: Emmanuel, Shannon, Brian, Stéphanie, Tara, Molly, and Emma. All of her children grew up to be musicians, playing instruments like the piano, violin, cello, flute, and guitar. Maria received special awards in France for her dedication to her large family.
After focusing on her family for many years, Maria returned to singing. In 2016, using her married name Maria Cuche, she joined The Voice of Ireland. She then tried out for The Voice France in 2020. During her time on The Voice France, she sang many famous songs. For her blind audition, she sang the traditional Irish song "Danny Boy" with all her children playing instruments. She also performed "You Raise Me Up" and "Memory". She made it to the semi-finals, where she sang "Hymne à l'amour" by Edith Piaf. Her two oldest children, Emmanuel and Shannon, joined her on piano and violin for this performance.
Author and Speaker
Maria is not only a singer but also a speaker. She gave a TEDx talk, which inspired her to write her autobiography. Her book, "On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur" (One Can Only Truly See with the Heart), was published in 2018. In the book, she shares her life story and how she overcame challenges.
In 2021, Maria was invited to perform at a special online event for the Irish Embassy in Paris. She sang "You Raise Me Up" with her son Emmanuel on piano. In 2024, Maria received a very special honor. She was invited to Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the Irish President. There, she became the first French woman to receive the Presidential Distinguished Service Award from the Irish President. This award recognized her amazing contributions and achievements.
