Niall Breslin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Niall Breslin
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Bressie with The Blizzards at Junction 7.08, June 2008
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| Background information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Niall Breslin | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Also known as | Bressie | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 22 October 1980 Artane, Dublin, Ireland |
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| 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 |
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Rugby career
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Niall Breslin (born on October 22, 1980), also known as Bressie, is a famous Irish musician. He was also a talented athlete, playing both Gaelic football and rugby. Bressie became well-known as the lead singer and songwriter for the pop band The Blizzards. He also worked as a solo artist and helped write and produce music for others.
Many people know Bressie from The Voice of Ireland, where he was a coach. His team won the show three times!
Contents
About Bressie
Early Life and Education
Niall Breslin was born in Dublin, Ireland. He is one of five children. When he was two years old, his family moved to Mullingar. He went to school there at Coláiste Mhuire.
When Bressie was 13, his family lived in Israel for five months. This was because his dad was in the military. Later, Bressie went to University College Dublin on a sports scholarship. He studied Economics and Sociology. In 2019, he earned a Master's Degree in Mindfulness. This is a type of training that helps people focus on the present moment.
Sports Achievements
Before his music career, Bressie was a skilled athlete. He played Gaelic football for Westmeath at different levels. In 2000, he won a Leinster Under-21 Football Championship medal with Westmeath.
He also played professional rugby union for Leinster Rugby. He even represented Ireland at the Under-21 level in the World Cup.
Becoming an Author
In 2015, Bressie wrote his first book called Me and My Mate Jeffrey. This book shares his own story and offers advice. "Jeffrey" is a way he describes his anxiety disorder. The book was very popular and won an Irish Book Award that year.
Podcasts for Wellbeing
Bressie uses his voice to help others with their mental health. In 2019, he started a podcast called Where Is My Mind?. This podcast talks about mental health and how to feel good. In 2020, he launched another podcast for Spotify called Wake Up / Wind Down. This series focuses on meditation and staying calm.
Bressie's Music Journey
The Blizzards Band
Bressie started the band The Blizzards in 2004 with his friends from childhood. They released two successful albums: A Public Display of Affection in 2006 and Domino Effect in 2008. The band became very popular.
The Blizzards decided to take a break in 2009. After that, Bressie worked as a songwriter and producer for Simon Fuller's company, XIX Entertainment.
Solo Music Career
In 2011, Bressie released his first solo album, Colourblind Stereo. He released four songs from this album.
In 2012, Bressie became a coach on the first season of The Voice of Ireland. He helped his contestant, Pat Byrne, win the show!
He then started working on his second solo album, Rage and Romance. A music video for his song Show Me Love featured actors from the TV show Moone Boy. Bressie also appeared on Moone Boy himself in 2014, playing a PE teacher.
In 2014, Bressie decided to pause his solo recording career. He wanted to focus on being a judge on The Voice of Ireland and writing music for other artists.
Personal Life and Advocacy
In 2013, Bressie shared his personal struggles with Generalized anxiety disorder. This is a type of anxiety that can make people worry a lot. He had a panic attack during a live TV show. After this, he sought help and learned to manage his anxiety.
He found that an active lifestyle helped him. He started training for a triathlon to support a cancer foundation called LARCC. His mother is a director at this foundation. Bressie also cycled around Ireland, visiting schools to talk about mental health.
Bressie's Music Releases
Studio Albums
- 2011: Colourblind Stereo - This album was released by Sony Music and reached number 8 on the Irish charts.
- 2013: Rage and Romance - This album was also released by Sony Music and reached number 1 on the Irish charts.
Singles
Bressie has released several popular songs:
- 2011: "Can't Stay Young Forever" (from Colourblind Stereo) - Reached number 9 in Ireland.
- 2011: "Good Intentions" (from Colourblind Stereo) - Reached number 36 in Ireland.
- 2012: "Breaking My Fall" (from Colourblind Stereo) - Reached number 14 in Ireland.
- 2013: "Show Me Love" (from Rage and Romance) - Reached number 53 in Ireland.
- 2013: "Silence Is Your Saviour" (from Rage and Romance)
Guest Appearances
- 2012: "Rocky Road to Poland"
