Richie Kavanagh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richie Kavanagh
Background information
Birth name	Richard Kavanagh
Born	(1949-03-19) 19 March 1949 (age 76) Fennagh, County Carlow, Ireland
Genres	Country and Irish, Comedy, novelty
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1970s–present

Richard Kavanagh (born March 19, 1949) is a famous Irish singer and songwriter. He is known for his funny songs and catchy tunes. Even though he faced challenges with his hands due to a skin condition called psoriasis, he became a very successful musician. His most famous song, "Aon Focal Eile," became a huge hit in Ireland in 1996.

Richie Kavanagh: Irish Singer-Songwriter

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Richie Kavanagh grew up in Fenagh, a small place in County Carlow, Ireland. He still lives there today. When he was a child, one of his teachers encouraged him to write songs and funny stories. He also loved watching traveling shows that visited his area. He would go home and pretend to perform on his kitchen table!

Before becoming a full-time musician, Richie worked at different jobs. He was a lorry driver, made decorative fountains, and even worked as a chef.

Richie started his music career in the 1970s. He began writing his own songs. For a short time, he was part of a duo called Dave and Dick. Then, he decided to go solo. He had an early hit song called "Face Her For Mount Leinster." He was becoming a popular entertainer. His stage act often included a funny character he created called 'Johnny'.

In 1991, his song "Holey Ireland" became popular on local radio. This song was about the many potholes (holes in the road) in Ireland. People even started calling him 'The Pot Hole Man' because of this song.

Richie's stage clothes, including his gloves and hat, became his special trademark look. He first chose them to cover his psoriasis, a common skin condition.

Becoming a Star: "Aon Focal Eile"

By 1996, Richie Kavanagh was a well-known performer in the southeast of Ireland. He often sold out small venues and opened shows for famous entertainers like Niall Tóibín.

In March 1996, something exciting happened. Richie's son told him that a song Richie had written years ago, "Aon Focal Eile," was being played on a national radio show. However, it was a cover version by another artist. Richie and his managers decided it was time to promote his original version of the song. He had not thought it was one of his best songs before this!

"Aon Focal Eile" quickly became incredibly popular across Ireland. It was even restricted on some radio stations in the UK, meaning it could only be played late at night.

The song was a massive success in the Irish music charts. It stayed in the top ten for over six months in 1996. It was even number one for eight weeks! It kept other big international hits from reaching the top spot. In May 1996, Richie had two albums in the Irish top ten album chart at the same time. These were "Travellin' Man" and "Aon Focail Eile - 15 Best Comedy Songs."

Richie won an IRMA award for Best Single of the Year in Ireland for 1996. "Aon Focal Eile" is still one of the best-selling singles in Irish chart history.

Later Career and Health

Richie Kavanagh has continued to have many other hit songs. Some of these include "The Mobile Phone," "Stay Wut Her Johnny," and "Chicken Talk."

On February 9, 2011, Richie shared some personal news during a radio interview. He announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This is a condition that affects movement. Despite this, Richie bravely said that he would continue to perform and entertain his fans.

Discography

Chart singles