Maxi (singer) facts for kids

Maxi (born Irene McCoubrey on February 23, 1950) is a well-known former musician and radio presenter from Ireland. She was famous for singing in two popular girl groups and an Irish supergroup called The Concerned.

Maxi represented Ireland twice in the famous Eurovision Song Contest, in 1973 and 1981. After a serious car accident, she shifted her career to radio, working as a presenter for the Irish broadcaster RTÉ. She worked there for 30 years before retiring in 2015.

Early Life and Family

Maxi was born Irene McCoubrey and was the youngest of three children. She grew up in a neighborhood of Dublin called Harold's Cross. Her nickname, Maxi, came from the "McC" in her last name.

Her family was very musical. Maxi and her father, Sam, both played the violin, and her mother, Madge, played the piano. This musical home helped start her journey into the world of entertainment. Besides her work in music and radio, Maxi also supported charities and was a representative for UNICEF Ireland.

A Career in Music

Maxi's singing talent was clear from a young age. She sang with the Little Dublin Singers and the Young Dublin Singers, and was also part of her school choir at St Louis High School, Rathmines.

Maxi, Dick and Twink

When Maxi was just 14, a TV and radio star named Eamonn Andrews wanted to form a new girl group. He chose Maxi, Adele King (nicknamed Twink), and Barbara Dixon (nicknamed Dick) to sing together. Their voices blended perfectly, and they became the group Maxi, Dick and Twink.

Being in the group helped a shy Maxi become more confident. They became very popular and even toured in other countries. After seven successful years, the members decided to go their separate ways to follow different dreams. Maxi said in 2015 that the three have remained good friends over the years.

Eurovision Song Contest

In 1973, when she was 23, Maxi was chosen to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1973. She was set to perform the song "Do I Dream". However, there was a disagreement with the Irish team about how the song should be performed.

For a moment, it seemed like Maxi might not sing. The Irish broadcaster, RTÉ, even flew in another singer, Tina Reynolds, as a backup. In the end, Maxi did perform and earned a respectable tenth place.

The Girl Group Sheeba

In the late 1970s, Maxi joined another girl group called Sheeba, along with Marion Fossett and Frances Campbell. They were known as one of Ireland's most exciting new groups.

In 1981, Sheeba represented Ireland at Eurovision with the song "Horoscopes" and finished in fifth place. Sadly, after this success, the group was in a serious traffic collision. All three members were hospitalized with injuries. Maxi's injuries were severe, but she recovered. The long recovery time caused problems with their record label, and the group eventually broke up.

The Concerned Supergroup

In 1985, Maxi joined a special Irish supergroup called The Concerned. This group was made up of many famous Irish musicians and celebrities. They recorded a song called "Show Some Concern" to raise money for the charity Concern Worldwide. The song was a huge hit in Ireland, reaching number one on the music charts.

A New Chapter in Radio

Maxi had always been interested in radio. After the car accident that ended her time with Sheeba, she decided to become a radio presenter. She remembered another radio host telling her she had a "beautiful radio voice." Working in radio also allowed her to perform using her voice without being seen on a stage.

For over 30 years, Maxi was a popular voice on Irish radio. She hosted several shows on RTÉ, including the early morning show Risin' Time on RTÉ Radio 1 for eleven years. She officially retired from RTÉ on her 65th birthday, February 23, 2015, after a long and successful career in broadcasting.