Niall Breslin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Niall Breslin
Bressie with The Blizzards at Junction 7.08, June 2008
Background information
Birth name	Niall Breslin
Also known as	Bressie
Born	(1980-10-22) 22 October 1980 (age 44) Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland
Genres	Soft rock, pop
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, television personality, former footballer
Instruments	Guitar, drums, piano
Labels	Sony Music
Associated acts	The Blizzards Brendan McCahey Michael Bohan
Rugby career
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Second row Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2002–2004 Leinster 14 (0) Correct as of 6 May 2015

Niall Breslin (born on October 22, 1980), also known as Bressie, is a well-known Irish musician. He was also a talented athlete, playing both Gaelic football and rugby. Bressie became famous as the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the pop band The Blizzards. He also worked as a songwriter and producer for XIX Entertainment and released music as a solo artist. Many people know him as a coach on the TV show The Voice of Ireland, where he helped contestants win in the first, third, and fifth seasons.

About Bressie

His Early Life

Niall Breslin was born in Dublin, Ireland, on October 22, 1980. His father, Enda, was from Bundoran in County Donegal, and his mother was Mandy. Niall is the second youngest of five children. When he was two years old, his family moved to Mullingar. He went to Coláiste Mhuire school there.

When Bressie was 13, his family lived in Israel for five months because of his father's military work. Later, Bressie went to University College Dublin with a special scholarship for sports. He earned a degree in Economics and Sociology in 2003. In 2019, he also completed a master's degree in Mindfulness Based Interventions. This degree focuses on using mindfulness to help people. In 2022, he was recognized as a top former student by UCD for his work in social sciences.

His Sports Career

Before his music career, Bressie was a skilled athlete. He played Gaelic football for Westmeath at different levels, including the Under-21 Championship. In 2000, he helped Westmeath win a Leinster Under-21 Football Championship medal.

Bressie also played professional rugby for Leinster Rugby. He received a scholarship for rugby at UCD. He even represented Ireland in the Under-21 World Cup.

His Writing and Podcasts

In 2015, Bressie wrote his first book called Me and My Mate Jeffrey. This book is partly about his own life and partly a self-help guide. "Jeffrey" is a way he describes his own anxiety. The book was very popular and won an Irish Book Award in 2015 for popular non-fiction.

In July 2019, Bressie started a podcast called Where Is My Mind?. This podcast talks about mental health and how to feel good. In April 2020, he launched another podcast series just for Spotify. It's called Wake Up / Wind Down (UK & IE) and focuses on mental well-being and meditation.

His Music Journey

The Blizzards Band

Bressie formed the band The Blizzards in 2004 with friends he knew since childhood. They released two successful albums: A Public Display of Affection in 2006 and Domino Effect in 2008. The band stopped playing together in 2009. After The Blizzards split, Bressie joined Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment in 2010. There, he worked as a songwriter and producer for other artists.

His Solo Music

In 2011, Bressie released his first solo album, Colourblind Stereo. Four songs from this album were released as singles. During a concert in Westmeath in May 2012, he spoke to the crowd. He encouraged them to think carefully about their votes in future elections.

In 2012, Bressie became a coach on the very first season of The Voice of Ireland. He guided his contestant, Pat Byrne, to win the show.

Towards the end of 2012, Bressie started working on his second solo album, Rage and Romance. A music video for his song Show Me Love was filmed. It featured actors David Rawle and Ian O'Reilly from the TV show Moone Boy. In 2014, Bressie also appeared on the second season of Moone Boy as a PE Teacher.

In January 2014, Bressie announced that he would take a break from being a solo recording artist. He wanted to focus on his role as a judge on The Voice of Ireland and on writing and producing music for others.

His Personal Life

In March 2013, Bressie shared on his blog about his experiences with anxiety. He had a difficult panic attack during a live TV show taping of The Voice of Ireland. After this, Bressie sought professional help. He decided to manage his anxiety by living a more active life. He started training for a triathlon to support Lakelands Area Retreat & Cancer Centre (LARCC). This is a foundation where his mother is a director.

..... This group works to raise awareness and support people dealing with mental health challenges. In April and May 2013, Bressie cycled with CAS around Ireland. They stopped at local schools to give talks about mental health.

Music Released

Studio Albums

Singles

Guest Appearances

• 2012 – "Rocky Road to Poland"